Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
Accounts receivable, Other	$ 161,527,000				$ 161,527,000				$ 148,599,000
Dividends declared					26,585,000	[1]	24,318,000
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.1225	[2]	$ 0.1175	[2]	$ 0.2450	[2]	$ 0.2350	[2]
Dividends paid					26,610,000		24,343,000
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards					(39,000)		1,055,000
U.S. Cellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options					627,000		4,764,000
Cash disbursements for payments of taxes					(3,092,000)	[3]	(3,500,000)	[3]
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards					(2,465,000)		1,264,000
TDS Parent Company
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options							1,115,000
Cash disbursements for payments of taxes					(39,000)	[3]	(60,000)	[3]
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards					(39,000)		1,055,000
TDS Telecom
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Grants Awarded	105,100,000				105,100,000
Recovery Act Projects Company Funds	30,900,000				30,900,000
Recovery Act Projects	44				44
Recovery Act Grants Received					6,500,000
TDS Telecom | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Grants
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
Accounts receivable, Other	7,800,000		3,700,000		7,800,000		3,700,000
Common Shares | U.S. Cellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Shares withheld					78	[4]
Common Shares | TDS Parent Company
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Aggregate value of shares withheld					5,000
Special Common Shares | U.S. Cellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Aggregate value of shares withheld					3,076,000
Special Common Shares | TDS Parent Company
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Shares withheld					1	[4]	5	[4]
Aggregate value of shares withheld					33,000		167,000
US Cellular Common Shares | U.S. Cellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Shares withheld							120	[4]
Aggregate value of shares withheld							$ 5,940,000

[1] The December 31, 2011 amounts reflect the impact of the Share Consolidation Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of TDS, as approved by the TDS shareholders on January 13, 2012.

[2] Dividends per share reflects the amount paid per share outstanding at the date the dividend was declared and has not been retroactively adjusted to reflect the impact of the Share Consolidation Amendment.

[3] In certain situations, TDS and U.S. Cellular withhold shares that are issuable upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted shares to cover, and with a value equivalent to, the exercise price and/or the amount of taxes required to be withheld from the stock award holder at the time of the exercise or vesting. TDS and U.S. Cellular then pay the amount of the required tax withholdings to the taxing authorities in cash.

[4] Such shares were withheld to cover the exercise price of stock options, if applicable, and required tax withholdings.