-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 FCfsHIWovkZlABxfRp3/xQ24ZnTYILfrqWMtS6PSyqbm/h/O4u4u2tYbPkzSnOTj
 H/xvwfEzOXDS6o0DabNpMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001120437-10-000032.txt : 20100302
<SEC-HEADER>0001120437-10-000032.hdr.sgml : 20100302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100302144048
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001120437-10-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100302
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARLSON LEROY T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14157
		FILM NUMBER:		10648716

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TDS
		STREET 2:		30 N LASALLE STREET, STE 4000
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60602

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195231</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARLSON LEROY T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>30 N. LASALLE ST., STE. 4000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60602</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman Emeritus</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Compensation</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7447.144</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Special Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>67014.865</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>67014.865</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting person deferred 2009 performance bonus pursuant to the Long term incentive plan - bonus deferral totalled 5772.98 shares and company match totalled 1674.164.   Reporting person has deferred previous bonuses.  The employer match vests ratably at 33%, 33% and 34% per year over a 3 year period consequently some past company matches are not vested.  Special common share units vested at 12/31/09 were 57,670.55.  This bonus was approved on March 1, 2010,  and we have calculated this deferral using a March 1 stock price.  Cash bonuses will be paid March 12, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie D. Mathews, by power of atty</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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