Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 511,078	$ 424,155
Short-term investments	116,368	127,039
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $20,611 and $21,337, respectively	298,460	341,439
Roaming	34,816	36,557
Affiliated	9	621
Other, less allowances of $2,131 and $2,200, respectively	64,282	63,204
Inventory	131,510	127,056
Income taxes receivable	70	74,791
Prepaid expenses	57,655	55,980
Net deferred income tax asset	31,905	31,905
Other current assets	11,149	10,096
Total current assets	1,257,302	1,292,843
Assets held for sale		49,647
Investments
Licenses	1,481,865	1,470,769
Goodwill	494,737	494,737
Customer lists, net of accumulated amortization of $96,689 and $96,597, respectively	223	314
Investments in unconsolidated entities	154,431	138,096
Notes and interest receivable - long-term	81	1,921
Long-term investments	40,276	30,057
Total investments	2,171,613	2,135,894
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction	7,126,220	7,008,449
Less: Accumulated depreciation	4,278,794	4,218,147
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,847,426	2,790,302
Other assets and deferred charges	65,094	59,290
Total assets	6,341,435	6,327,976
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	127	127
Accounts payable
Affiliated	15,172	12,183
Trade	280,433	303,779
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	190,866	181,355
Accrued taxes	38,999	34,095
Accrued compensation	33,374	69,551
Other current liabilities	87,322	121,190
Total current liabilities	646,293	722,280
Liabilities held for sale		1,051
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability	812,929	799,190
Other deferred liabilities and credits	250,177	248,213
Long-term debt	880,486	880,320
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	1,064	1,005
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	88,074	88,074
Additional paid-in capital	1,392,845	1,387,341
Treasury Shares, at cost	(152,220)	(152,817)
Retained earnings	2,359,589	2,297,363
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity	3,688,288	3,619,961
Noncontrolling interests	62,198	55,956
Total equity	3,750,486	3,675,917
Total liabilities and equity	6,341,435	6,327,976
Series A Common Shares
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	33,006	33,006
Common Shares
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	$ 55,068	$ 55,068