Exhibit 12

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2009			2008
	(Dollars in thousands)
EARNINGS:
Income before income taxes	$	134,012		$	139,756
Add (deduct):
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(25,337		)	(21,470		)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	6,029			7,047
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries that do not have fixed charges	(5,832		)	(4,868		)
	108,872			120,465
Add fixed charges:
Consolidated interest expense (1)	30,105			41,380
Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense	12,724			12,080
	$	151,701		$	173,925
FIXED CHARGES:
Consolidated interest expense(1)	$	30,105		$	41,380
Capitalized interest	585			293
Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense	12,724			12,080
	$	43,414		$	53,753
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	3.49			3.24
Tax-effected preferred dividends	$	19		$	22
Fixed charges	43,414			53,753
Fixed charges and preferred dividends	$	43,433		$	53,775
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS	3.49			3.23

(1)       Interest expense on income tax contingencies is not included in fixed charges.