Asset Retirement Obligation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract]

Asset retirement obligations

							Non-
			U.S.		TDS		Reportable		TDS
(Dollars in thousands)			Cellular		Telecom		Segment		Consolidated
Balance December 31, 2011			$	143,402	$	65,209	$	3,806	$	212,417
	Additional liabilities accrued			5,578		367		-		5,945
	Revisions in estimated cash outflows (1)			22,588		-		-		22,588
	Disposition of assets			(2,674)		(298)		-		(2,972)
	Accretion expense (2)			10,713		4,691		228		15,632
Balance December 31, 2012			$	179,607	$	69,969	$	4,034	$	253,610
Balance December 31, 2010			$	128,709	$	61,036	$	-	$	189,745
	Additional liabilities accrued			2,105		559		-		2,664
	Revisions in estimated cash outflows			5,888		-		-		5,888
	Acquisitions of assets			-		140		3,751		3,891
	Disposition of assets			(1,323)		(929)		-		(2,252)
	Accretion expense			8,023		4,403		55		12,481
Balance December 31, 2011			$	143,402	$	65,209	$	3,806	$	212,417
(1)		In 2012, U.S. Cellular included $14.9 million as a result of changes in expected settlement dates related to the Divestiture Transaction.
(2)		In 2012, U.S. Cellular included $0.2 million of incremental accretion related to the Divestiture Transaction.