Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 185,386	$ 123,505
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	496,280	395,943
Bad debts expense	35,187	33,626
Stock-based compensation expense	12,902	20,955
Deferred income taxes, net	(21,246)	29,929
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(62,694)	(48,781)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	47,635	6,973
Loss on impairment of assets		515
Loss on asset disposals, net	13,935	5,074
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(296,103)	(4,174)
(Gain) loss on investments	(14,518)	3,728
Noncash interest expense	997	1,728
Other operating activities	505	1,010
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	(5,781)	(10,197)
Inventory	(8,105)	(58,467)
Accounts payable	58,204	(23,336)
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	7,897	22,786
Accrued taxes	150,425	89,433
Accrued interest	2,172	(1,823)
Other assets and liabilities	(81,586)	(81,517)
Cash flows from operating activities	521,492	506,910
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment	(384,281)	(501,211)
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses	(14,150)	(52,213)
Cash received from divestitures	480,000	50,036
Cash paid for investments		(45,000)
Cash received for investments	15,000	128,444
Other investing activities	14,127	(8,916)
Cash flows from investing activities	110,696	(428,860)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt	(605)	(952)
Issuance of long-term debt		358
TDS Common Shares and Special Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	776	(39)
U.S. Cellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	(2,206)	(2,465)
Repurchase of U.S. Cellular Common Shares	(18,425)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(27,598)	(26,610)
U.S. Cellular dividends paid to noncontrolling public shareholders	(75,235)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(23)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,292)	(643)
Other financing activities	354	2,790
Cash flows from financing activities	(126,254)	(27,561)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	505,934	50,489
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	740,481	563,275
End of period	$ 1,246,415	$ 613,764