Business Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	$ 1,180,980	$ 1,370,108	$ 3,717,719	$ 3,999,068
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	481,285	600,459	1,556,908	1,637,340
Selling, general and administrative	476,864	506,217	1,434,487	1,516,220
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	255,295	196,219	751,575	592,162
Loss on impairment of assets				515
Loss on asset disposals, net	2,155	11,642	16,090	16,716
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1,534)	65	(297,637)	(4,109)
Operating income (loss)	(33,085)	55,506	256,296	240,224
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	37,609	25,015	100,303	73,796
Interest and dividend income	2,507	2,359	6,685	6,894
Gain (loss) on investments			14,518	(3,728)
Interest expense	(24,961)	(20,497)	(73,208)	(68,100)
Other, net	145	217	(206)	196
Income (loss) before income taxes	(17,785)	62,600	304,388	249,282
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	255,295	196,219	751,575	592,162
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1,534)	65	(297,637)	(4,109)
Gain (loss) on investments			(14,518)	3,728
Interest expense	24,961	20,497	73,208	68,100
Adjusted income before income taxes	260,937	279,381	817,016	909,163
Investments in unconsolidated entities	345,411	199,480	345,411	199,480	179,921
Total assets	8,699,700	8,390,816	8,699,700	8,390,816	8,623,900
Capital expenditures	281,248	244,588	637,428	697,037
U.S. Cellular
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	939,236	1,140,357	3,016,112	3,336,878
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	370,823	497,274	1,238,150	1,352,401
Selling, general and administrative	410,468	438,526	1,234,675	1,315,823
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	200,985	145,151	593,410	439,391
Loss on asset disposals, net	1,701	11,262	16,153	15,967
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1,534)	65	(243,627)	(4,148)
Operating income (loss)	(43,207)	48,079	177,351	217,444
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	37,360	24,816	99,797	71,584
Interest and dividend income	1,095	935	2,967	2,823
Gain (loss) on investments			18,527	(3,728)
Interest expense	(11,329)	(9,501)	(32,393)	(35,272)
Other, net	47	200	153	173
Income (loss) before income taxes	(16,034)	64,529	266,402	253,024
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	200,985	145,151	593,410	439,391
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1,534)	65	(243,627)	(4,148)
Gain (loss) on investments			(18,527)	3,728
Interest expense	11,329	9,501	32,393	35,272
Adjusted income before income taxes	194,746	219,246	630,051	727,267
Investments in unconsolidated entities	309,481	162,012	309,481	162,012
Total assets	6,259,854	6,536,348	6,259,854	6,536,348
Capital expenditures	242,459	199,104	529,366	583,632
TDS Telecom Wireline
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	181,800	184,066	545,568	556,317
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	68,249	67,740	202,521	205,088
Selling, general and administrative	53,254	57,619	167,326	174,534
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	42,136	42,800	129,352	129,367
Loss on asset disposals, net	426	345	(176)	633
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				39
Operating income (loss)	17,735	15,562	46,545	46,656
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	2	11	16	9
Interest and dividend income	331	835	1,263	2,407
Gain (loss) on investments	830		830
Interest expense	794	605	2,420	2,017
Other, net	(35)	(43)	(213)	(339)
Income (loss) before income taxes	19,657	16,970	50,861	50,750
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	42,136	42,800	129,352	129,367
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				39
Gain (loss) on investments	(830)		(830)
Interest expense	(794)	(605)	(2,420)	(2,017)
Adjusted income before income taxes	60,169	59,165	176,963	178,139
Investments in unconsolidated entities	3,809	3,813	3,809	3,813
Total assets	1,464,208	1,505,381	1,464,208	1,505,381
Capital expenditures	32,792	39,110	93,998	109,085
TDS Telecom Cable
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	14,362		14,362
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	6,727		6,727
Selling, general and administrative	5,184		5,184
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	2,914		2,914
Operating income (loss)	(463)		(463)
Interest expense	(32)		(32)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(495)		(495)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	2,914		2,914
Interest expense	32		32
Adjusted income before income taxes	2,451		2,451
Total assets	276,943		276,943
Capital expenditures	1,400		1,400
TDS Telecom HMS
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	38,727	36,428	115,665	76,862
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	27,518	25,332	82,517	50,196
Selling, general and administrative	10,064	10,901	29,346	24,268
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	6,255	5,451	17,286	14,272
Loss on asset disposals, net	10	6	123	105
Operating income (loss)	(5,120)	(5,262)	(13,607)	(11,979)
Interest and dividend income	15	4	47	11
Interest expense	(397)	(278)	(1,205)	(794)
Other, net	111	(5)	(11)	(5)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(5,391)	(5,541)	(14,776)	(12,767)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	6,255	5,451	17,286	14,272
Interest expense	397	278	1,205	794
Adjusted income before income taxes	1,261	188	3,715	2,299
Total assets	264,675	269,550	264,675	269,550
Capital expenditures	2,371	4,358	7,220	13,000
TDS Telecom Eliminations
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	(346)	(77)	(531)	(168)
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	(322)	(77)	(507)	(168)
Selling, general and administrative	(24)		(24)
TDS Telecom
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	234,543	220,417	675,064	633,011
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	102,172	92,995	291,258	255,116
Selling, general and administrative	68,478	68,520	201,832	198,802
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	51,305	48,251	149,552	143,639
Loss on asset disposals, net	436	351	(53)	738
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				39
Operating income (loss)	12,152	10,300	32,475	34,677
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	2	11	16	9
Interest and dividend income	346	839	1,310	2,418
Gain (loss) on investments	830		830
Interest expense	365	327	1,183	1,223
Other, net	76	(48)	(224)	(344)
Income (loss) before income taxes	13,771	11,429	35,590	37,983
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	51,305	48,251	149,552	143,639
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				39
Gain (loss) on investments	(830)		(830)
Interest expense	(365)	(327)	(1,183)	(1,223)
Adjusted income before income taxes	63,881	59,353	183,129	180,438
Investments in unconsolidated entities	3,809	3,813	3,809	3,813
Total assets	2,005,826	1,774,931	2,005,826	1,774,931
Capital expenditures	36,563	43,468	102,618	122,085
Non-Reportable Segment
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	14,152	15,286	42,961	45,300
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	10,517	10,680	30,431	31,418
Selling, general and administrative	3,295	3,790	10,767	12,198
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	1,485	1,525	4,494	4,624
Loss on impairment of assets				515
Loss on asset disposals, net	32	5	32	(5)
Operating income (loss)	(1,177)	(714)	(2,763)	(3,450)
Interest and dividend income	1	2	3	6
Interest expense	(1,024)	(989)	(3,007)	(2,938)
Other, net	4	65	(153)	367
Income (loss) before income taxes	(2,196)	(1,636)	(5,920)	(6,015)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	1,485	1,525	4,494	4,624
Interest expense	1,024	989	3,007	2,938
Adjusted income before income taxes	313	878	1,581	1,547
Total assets	58,697	65,732	58,697	65,732
Capital expenditures	203	294	720	730
Other Reconciling Items
Business Segment Information
Operating revenues	(6,951)	(5,952)	(16,418)	(16,121)
Cost of services and products (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)	(2,227)	(490)	(2,931)	(1,595)
Selling, general and administrative	(5,377)	(4,619)	(12,787)	(10,603)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	1,520	1,292	4,119	4,508
Loss on asset disposals, net	(14)	24	(42)	16
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			(54,010)
Operating income (loss)	(853)	(2,159)	49,233	(8,447)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	247	188	490	2,203
Interest and dividend income	1,065	583	2,405	1,647
Gain (loss) on investments	(830)		(4,839)
Interest expense	(12,973)	(10,334)	(38,991)	(31,113)
Other, net	18		18
Income (loss) before income taxes	(13,326)	(11,722)	8,316	(35,710)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense	1,520	1,292	4,119	4,508
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			(54,010)
Gain (loss) on investments	830		4,839
Interest expense	12,973	10,334	38,991	31,113
Adjusted income before income taxes	1,997	(96)	2,255	(89)
Investments in unconsolidated entities	32,121	33,655	32,121	33,655
Total assets	375,323	13,805	375,323	13,805
Capital expenditures	$ 2,023	$ 1,722	$ 4,724	$ (9,410)