Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 437,624,000	$ 418,428,000	$ 424,155,000	$ 276,915,000
Other current assets	11,197,000		10,096,000
Licenses	1,484,202,000	1,454,901,000	1,470,769,000	1,452,101,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,883,118,000		2,790,302,000
Other assets and deferred charges	71,194,000		59,290,000
Liabilities
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	202,485,000		181,355,000
Current liabilities	642,713,000		722,280,000
Capital contributions and advances	5,000,000	6,800,000
Variable Interest Entities (VIE's)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	7,933,000		12,086,000
Other current assets	156,000		47,000
Licenses	486,136,000		483,059,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	13,140,000		9,450,000
Other assets and deferred charges	836,000		153,000
Total assets	508,201,000		504,795,000
Liabilities
Current liabilities	624,000		957,000
Deferred liabilities and credits	1,620,000
Total liabilities	$ 2,244,000		$ 957,000
Barat Wireless, Inc.
Business Acquisition, Preexisting Relationship
Date of acquisition agreement	May 21, 2012
Voting stock acquired	100.00%
Acquired entity	Barat Wireless, Inc.
Acquisition agreement description	On May 21, 2012, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership interest in Barat Wireless, Inc., the general partner of Barat Wireless L.P., for an immaterial amount. The acquisition requires approval from the FCC and, if approved, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2012. Following the closing, Barat Wireless L.P. and Barat Wireless, Inc. will cease to be VIEs but will continue to be consolidated.