Investment in Unconsolidated Entities, Deconsolidation (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Deconsolidation description	On April 3, 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with Verizon Wireless relating to the Partnerships. The agreement amends the Partnership Agreements in several ways which provide Verizon Wireless with substantive participating rights that allow Verizon Wireless to make decisions that are in the ordinary course of business of the Partnerships and which are significant to directing and executing the activities of the business. Accordingly, as required by GAAP, TDS deconsolidated the Partnerships effective as of April 3, 2013 and thereafter reported them as equity method investments in its consolidated financial statements (“NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation”).  After the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation, TDS retained the same ownership percentages in the Partnerships and continues to report the same percentages of income from the Partnerships. Effective April 3, 2013, TDS’ income from the Partnerships is reported in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Ownership interest in equity method investment	60.00%
New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Ownership interest in equity method investment	57.14%
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Date Of Deconsolidation	Apr. 03, 2013