Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 number	Mar. 31, 2013
Basis of Presentation
TDS ownership	84.00%
Number of business segments	5
Business segments, additional information	TDS’ business segments reflected in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014 are U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom’s Wireline, Cable and Hosted and Managed Services (“HMS”) operations, and the Non-Reportable Segment which includes TDS’ majority-owned printing and distribution company, Suttle-Straus, Inc. (“Suttle-Straus”) and TDS’ wholly-owned wireless telephone subsidiary, Airadigm Communications, Inc. (“Airadigm”).
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities	$ 31.0	$ 36.1