Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, divestitures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		5 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	14 Months Ended	26 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	14 Months Ended	26 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	14 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		26 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		26 Months Ended		14 Months Ended		26 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013 Divestiture transaction		Mar. 31, 2013 Divestiture transaction		Dec. 31, 2012 Divestiture transaction		Mar. 31, 2013 Bolingbrook customer care center	Dec. 31, 2012 Bolingbrook customer care center		Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Mar. 31, 2013 Maximum Divestiture transaction	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Purchase price Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Purchase price Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Purchase price Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Sprint Cost Reimbursement Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Sprint Cost Reimbursement Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Net assets transferred Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Mar. 31, 2013 Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement Divestiture transaction		Dec. 31, 2014 Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Mar. 31, 2013 Contract termination costs Divestiture transaction		Dec. 31, 2014 Contract termination costs Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Contract termination costs Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Transaction costs Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Transaction costs Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values Minimum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2014 Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values Maximum Divestiture transaction Expected event	Dec. 31, 2013 Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of various operating assets and liabilities Divestiture transaction Expected event
Divestitures
Business divestiture date											Jan. 01, 2013
Business divestiture description											Effective January 1, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred its Bolingbrook Customer Care Center operations to an existing third party vendor.
Business divestiture agreement description					On November 6, 2012, U.S. Cellular entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with subsidiaries of Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Sprint”). The Purchase and Sale Agreement provides that U.S. Cellular will transfer customers and certain PCS licensed spectrum to Sprint in U.S. Cellular's Chicago, central Illinois, St. Louis and certain Indiana/Michigan/Ohio markets (“Divestiture Markets”) in consideration for $480 million in cash at closing, subject to pro-rations of certain assets and liabilities. The Purchase and Sale Agreement also contemplates certain other agreements, together with the Purchase and Sale Agreement collectively referred to as the “Divestiture Transaction.” The transaction was approved by the FCC in March 2013 and the closing is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2013. U.S. Cellular will retain other assets and liabilities related to the Divestiture Markets, including network assets, retail stores and related equipment, and other buildings and facilities. The transaction does not affect spectrum licenses held by U.S. Cellular or variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that are not currently used in the operations of the Divestiture Markets. The Purchase and Sale Agreement also contemplates certain other agreements, including customer and network transition services agreements, which will require that U.S. Cellular provide customer, billing and network services to Sprint for a period of up to 24 months after the closing date. Sprint will reimburse U.S. Cellular for providing such services at an amount equal to U.S. Cellular's cost, including applicable overhead allocations. In addition, these agreements will require Sprint to reimburse U.S. Cellular up to $200 million (the “Sprint Cost Reimbursement”) for certain network decommissioning costs, network site lease rent and termination costs, network access termination costs, and employee termination benefits for specified engineering employees.
Business divestiture agreement date					Nov. 06, 2012
Transition services agreement duration																	24M
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income	$ (1,466)	$ (85,202)			$ 45,136		$ 89,671									$ (89,000)				$ (9,000)
Divestiture financial impacts
Expected period of realization / incurrence																					2013			2013	2014	2013	2012	2013			2012	2014			2012	2014	2012	2013	2012	2013	2013
Cash received from divestitures		(49,786)																				(480,000)	(480,000)	(150,000)	(200,000)
Net assets transferred														210,000				230,000
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets					222		10,894								11,000				15,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement					3,050		15,659									16,000				25,000
Contract termination costs					2,900		2,959									125,000				175,000
Transaction costs					918		2,055								4,000				6,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	6,931	(4,213)			7,090		31,567									(264,000)				(229,000)
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values	189,845	146,685			38,046		58,104								175,000				210,000
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of various operating assets and liabilities	420,080	442,244																10,000
Balance Sheet rollforward
Balance, beginning of period																													12,305				30
Costs incurred																													3,050				2,900
Cash settlements																													(1,607)	[1]			(784)	[1]
Balance, end of period																													13,748				2,146
Assets and liabilities held for sale
Licenses			140,599		140,599		140,599		140,599
Goodwill			72,994		72,994		72,994		72,994
Property, plant and equipment			3,170									3,170	[2]
Total Assets held for sale	213,593		216,763		213,593		213,593		213,593			3,170	[2]
Liabilities held for sale	$ 18,360		$ 19,594	[3]	$ 18,360	[3]	$ 18,360	[3]	$ 19,594	[3]

[1] Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

[2] Effective January 1, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred its Bolingbrook Customer Care Center operations to an existing third party vendor.

[3] Liabilities held for sale primarily consisted of Customer deposits and deferred revenues.