Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (126,631)	$ 174,332
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	635,015	751,575
Bad debts expense	79,218	56,693
Stock-based compensation expense	25,715	21,867
Deferred income taxes, net	(33,242)	(30,748)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(108,198)	(100,303)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	74,864	51,879
Loss on impairment of assets	84,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	19,626	16,090
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(9,079)	(297,637)
(Gain) loss on investments		(14,518)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	(91,446)
Noncash interest expense	1,584	1,498
Other operating activities	13	575
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	(7,879)	(216,700)
Inventory	52,078	11,114
Accounts payable	11,034	33,312
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	37,834	21,883
Accrued taxes	14,307	41,838
Accrued interest	9,105	9,451
Other assets and liabilities	(171,707)	(94,301)
Cash flows from operating activities	496,211	437,900
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment	(553,718)	(631,370)
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses	(284,089)	(280,383)
Cash received from divestitures	151,369	484,300
Cash received for investments	10,000	80,000
Other investing activities	5,598	13,860
Cash flows from investing activities	(670,840)	(333,593)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt	(819)	(1,196)
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	486	7,537
U.S. Cellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	1,150	2,840
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	(31,293)	(5,813)
Repurchase of U.S. Cellular Common Shares	(14,698)	(18,544)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(43,575)	(41,430)
U.S. Cellular dividends paid to noncontrolling public shareholders		(75,235)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(439)	(3,447)
Other financing activities	6,870	1,589
Cash flows from financing activities	(82,318)	(133,699)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(256,947)	(29,392)
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	830,014	740,481
End of period	$ 573,067	$ 711,089