Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 437,624	$ 424,155
Short-term investments	100,738	127,039
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $21,953 and $21,337, respectively	316,933	341,439
Roaming	42,146	36,557
Affiliated	32	621
Other, less allowances of $2,358 and $2,200, respectively	71,650	63,204
Inventory	183,139	127,056
Income taxes receivable	324	74,791
Prepaid expenses	61,194	55,980
Net deferred income tax asset	35,641	31,905
Other current assets	11,197	10,096
Total current assets	1,260,618	1,292,843
Assets held for sale		49,647
Investments
Licenses	1,484,202	1,470,769
Goodwill	494,737	494,737
Customer lists, net of accumulated amortization of $96,742 and $96,597, respectively	170	314
Investments in unconsolidated entities	175,663	138,096
Notes and interest receivable - long-term	82	1,921
Long-term investments	55,468	30,057
Total investments	2,210,322	2,135,894
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction	7,232,771	7,008,449
Less: Accumulated depreciation	4,349,653	4,218,147
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,883,118	2,790,302
Other assets and deferred charges	71,194	59,290
Total assets	6,425,252	6,327,976
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	127	127
Accounts payable
Affiliated	15,312	12,183
Trade	239,950	303,779
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	202,485	181,355
Accrued taxes	44,250	34,095
Accrued compensation	51,305	69,551
Other current liabilities	89,284	121,190
Total current liabilities	642,713	722,280
Liabilities held for sale		1,051
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability	840,484	799,190
Other deferred liabilities and credits	247,692	248,213
Long-term debt	880,623	880,320
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	1,050	1,005
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	88,074	88,074
Additional paid-in capital	1,399,010	1,387,341
Treasury Shares, at cost	(146,057)	(152,817)
Retained earnings	2,403,312	2,297,363
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity	3,744,339	3,619,961
Noncontrolling interests	68,351	55,956
Total equity	3,812,690	3,675,917
Total liabilities and equity	6,425,252	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