May refer to a number of different types of wires or groups of wires capable of carrying voice or data transmissions.

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Depreciation rate stated as a percent of depreciable property.

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Processor controlled entities of the telecommunications network that primarily proivide switching and transport network functions and contain network operations functions.

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No definition available.

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Premises equipment which performs the function of establishing and releasing connections on a per call basis between two or more circuts, services or communications systems.

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No definition available.

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Capitalized costs of purchased software applications and capitalized costs to develop software for long-term internal use.

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No definition available.

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Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation of building structures held for productive use including addition, improvement, or renovation to the structure, including, but not limited to, interior masonry, interior flooring, electrical, and plumbing.

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Amount of structure or a modification to a structure under construction. Includes recently completed structures or modifications to structures that have not been placed into service.

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The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation of equipment commonly used in offices and stores that have no permanent connection to the structure of a building or utilities. Examples include, but are not limited to, desks, chairs, tables, and bookcases.

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

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Amount before accumulated depletion of real estate held for productive use, excluding land held for sale.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Amount before accumulated depreciation of additions or improvements to assets held under a lease arrangement.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation of tangible personal property used to produce goods and services, including, but is not limited to, tools, dies and molds, computer and office equipment.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of other physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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No definition available.

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Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 11,194,044,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	$ 11,239,804,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(7,347,919,000)	(7,361,660,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,846,125,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3,878,144,000us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	26,531,000	30,841,000	19,741,000
U.S. Cellular
Property, Plant and Equipment
Land	35,031,000	36,266,000
Buildings	296,502,000	304,272,000
Leasehold and land improvements	1,086,718,000	1,197,520,000
Cell site equipment	3,269,609,000	3,306,575,000
Switching equipment	960,377,000	1,161,976,000
Office furniture and equipment	553,630,000	539,248,000
Other equipment	89,663,000	92,456,000
System development	1,042,195,000	962,698,000
Work in process	125,015,000	116,501,000
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7,458,740,000	7,717,512,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(4,730,523,000)	(4,860,992,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,728,217,000	2,856,520,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	593,200,000	791,100,000	597,700,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	21,469,000	30,606,000	18,088,000
U.S. Cellular \| Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	20 years
U.S. Cellular \| Leasehold and land improvements \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	1 year
U.S. Cellular \| Leasehold and land improvements \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	30 years
U.S. Cellular \| Cell site equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
U.S. Cellular \| Cell site equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	25 years
U.S. Cellular \| Switching equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
U.S. Cellular \| Switching equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	8 years
U.S. Cellular \| Office furniture and equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
U.S. Cellular \| Office furniture and equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
U.S. Cellular \| Other operating assets and equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
U.S. Cellular \| Other operating assets and equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
U.S. Cellular \| System development \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	1 year
U.S. Cellular \| System development \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
TDS Telecom
Property, Plant and Equipment
Land	16,974,000	12,794,000
Buildings	172,963,000	148,800,000
Cable and wire	1,628,782,000	1,523,123,000
Network electronic equipment	1,278,799,000	1,229,941,000
Office furniture and equipment	79,666,000	74,507,000
Other equipment	102,540,000	94,438,000
System development	241,153,000	230,416,000
Work in process	91,419,000	88,614,000
Property, plant and equipment, gross	3,612,296,000	3,402,633,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,518,625,000)	(2,417,999,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,093,671,000	984,634,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	195,100,000	182,600,000	177,300,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	4,754,000	283,000	1,128,000
TDS Telecom \| Buildings \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
TDS Telecom \| Buildings \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	40 years
TDS Telecom \| Cable and wire \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	15 years
TDS Telecom \| Cable and wire \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	35 years
TDS Telecom \| Network electronic equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
TDS Telecom \| Network electronic equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	13 years
TDS Telecom \| Office furniture and equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
TDS Telecom \| Office furniture and equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	10 years
TDS Telecom \| Other equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
TDS Telecom \| Other equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	12 years
TDS Telecom \| System development \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
TDS Telecom \| System development \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
TDS Telecom Wireline
Property, Plant and Equipment
Depreciation as a percent of depreciable property	5.20%	5.30%	5.60%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	2,091,000	130,000	1,020,000
Other
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	123,008,000	119,659,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(98,771,000)	(82,669,000)
Property, plant and equipment, net	24,237,000	36,990,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	9,300,000	10,700,000	10,300,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	$ 308,000	$ (48,000)	$ 525,000