Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 409,579	$ 424,155
Short-term investments	140,494	127,039
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $24,784 and $21,337, respectively	332,318	341,439
Roaming	47,216	36,557
Affiliated	119	621
Other, less allowances of $3,127 and $2,200, respectively	84,132	63,204
Inventory	196,523	127,056
Income taxes receivable	2,280	74,791
Prepaid expenses	60,631	55,980
Net deferred income tax asset	37,868	31,905
Other current assets	15,993	10,096
Total current assets	1,327,153	1,292,843
Assets held for sale		49,647
Investments
Licenses	1,531,873	1,470,769
Goodwill	494,737	494,737
Customer lists, net of accumulated amortization of $96,776 and $96,597, respectively	135	314
Investments in unconsolidated entities	162,012	138,096
Notes and interest receivable - long-term		1,921
Long-term investments	10,171	30,057
Total investments	2,198,928	2,135,894
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction	7,341,632	7,008,449
Less: Accumulated depreciation	4,406,847	4,218,147
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,934,785	2,790,302
Other assets and deferred charges	75,482	59,290
Total assets	6,536,348	6,327,976
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	127	127
Accounts payable
Affiliated	7,398	12,183
Trade	250,681	303,779
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	208,042	181,355
Accrued taxes	60,695	34,095
Accrued compensation	52,200	69,551
Other current liabilities	92,957	121,190
Total current liabilities	672,100	722,280
Liabilities held for sale		1,051
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability	861,709	799,190
Other deferred liabilities and credits	259,499	248,213
Long-term debt	880,486	880,320
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	759	1,005
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	88,074	88,074
Additional paid-in capital	1,406,617	1,387,341
Treasury Shares, at cost, 3,339 and 3,517 Common Shares, respectively	(145,859)	(152,817)
Retained earnings	2,438,760	2,297,363
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity	3,787,592	3,619,961
Noncontrolling interests	74,203	55,956
Total equity	3,861,795	3,675,917
Total liabilities and equity	6,536,348	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