Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 409,579,000	$ 492,393,000	$ 424,155,000	$ 276,915,000
Other current assets	15,993,000		10,096,000
Licenses	1,531,873,000	1,470,550,000	1,470,769,000	1,452,101,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,934,785,000		2,790,302,000
Other assets and deferred charges	75,482,000		59,290,000
Liabilities
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	208,042,000		181,355,000
Current liabilities	672,100,000		722,280,000
Capital contributions and advances	5,000,000	15,800,000
Variable Interest Entities (VIE's)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	6,086,000		12,086,000
Other current assets	142,000		47,000
Licenses	396,934,000		483,059,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	15,167,000		9,450,000
Other assets and deferred charges	435,000		153,000
Total assets	418,764,000		504,795,000
Liabilities
Current liabilities	981,000		957,000
Deferred liabilities and credits	2,042,000
Total liabilities	$ 3,023,000		$ 957,000
Carroll PCS
Business Acquisition, Preexisting Relationship
Date of acquisition agreement	2012-10-12
Voting stock acquired	100.00%
Acquired entity	Carroll PCS, Inc.
Acquisition agreement description	On October 12, 2012, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership interest in Carroll PCS, Inc., the general partner of Carroll Wireless L.P., for an immaterial amount. The acquisition requires approval from the FCC and, if approved, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012. Following the closing, Carroll Wireless L.P. and Carroll PCS, Inc. will cease to be VIEs but will continue to be consolidated.
Barat Wireless, Inc.
Business Acquisition, Preexisting Relationship
Date of acquisition	2012-09-07
Voting stock acquired	100.00%
Acquired entity	Barat Wireless, Inc.
Acquisition description	On September 7, 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired 100% of the ownership interest in Barat Wireless, Inc., the general partner of Barat Wireless L.P., for an immaterial amount. Prior to this acquisition, U.S. Cellular consolidated Barat Wireless L.P. and Barat Wireless, Inc. as VIEs. Subsequent to the acquisition date these entities ceased to be VIEs but continue to be consolidated based on U.S. Cellular’s controlling financial interest in the entities.