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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RpfYjORafv6jl/62FKHUnyotM9mIUNzoHZ0mJP/ym0Bt7l4znzB5DY/MR6B6gfdE
 ORJ6/v5GpI5ahDmGCTgCCg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001120437-08-000022.txt : 20080303
<SEC-HEADER>0001120437-08-000022.hdr.sgml : 20080303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080303103903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001120437-08-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080229
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051512
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				362669023
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 NORTH LASALLE STREET
		STREET 2:		STE 4000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126301900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 NORTH LASALLE STREET
		STREET 2:		STE 4000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARLSON WALTER CD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230118

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14157
		FILM NUMBER:		08658168

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TDS
		STREET 2:		30 N LASALLE ST., STE 4000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126301900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TDS 30 N LASALLE STREET
		STREET 2:		STE 4000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051512</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELEPHONE &amp; DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TDS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230118</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARLSON WALTER CD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>30 N. LASALLE ST. STE. 4000</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60602</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Special Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1044</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8678.2156</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Special Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1894200.619</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Voting Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5844.1776</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares or Special Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>881.2211</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>881.2211</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares or Special Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1899325.44</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1899325.44</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Voting Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to a compensation plan for non-employee directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Series A Common shares are convertible, on a share-for-share basis, into common or special common shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person is one of four trustees which is record owner of these shares and while files its holdings on forms 4.  Of these shares, 107,413.606  (including 6158.606 shares acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) are held as custodian for children, 7770 are held by wife and 684960.425  (including 14963.425 acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) are held by family partnership of which reporting person is a general partner.  Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownerhip of the shares owned by wife and the shares held as custodian for children.  The remaining shares include 72,881.258 shares acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Reporting person is one of four trustees which is record owner of these shares and while files its holdings on forms 4.  Of these shares, 107348.078  (including 6093.078 shares acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) are held as custodian for children, 7770 are held by wife and 686345.663 (including 16348.663 acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan) are held by family partnership of which reporting person is a general partner.  Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownerhip of the shares owned by wife and the shares held as custodian for children.  The remaining shares include 76,686.374 shares acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie D. Mathews, by power of atty</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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