Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, acquisitions (Details) (Airadigm Communications, Inc., USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 Expected event
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges
Purchase price		$ 91.5
Date of acquisition agreement	May 23, 2014
Acquisition agreement description	On May 23, 2014, U.S. Cellular entered into a License Purchase and Customer Recommendation Agreement with Airadigm Communications, Inc. (“Airadigm”). TDS owns 100% of the common stock of Airadigm. The Agreement provides that Airadigm will transfer to U.S. Cellular FCC spectrum licenses and certain tower assets in certain markets in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan, in consideration for $91.5 million in cash at closing. The transaction also includes a program in which Airadigm would earn a migration fee from U.S. Cellular for each Airadigm customer who becomes a U.S. Cellular customer. Since both parties to this transaction are controlled by TDS, upon closing, U.S. Cellular will record the transferred assets at Airadigm’s net book value of $15.2 million. The difference between the consideration paid and the net book value of the transferred assets will be recorded as a reduction of U.S. Cellular’s Retained earnings. The transaction is subject to certain conditions. Subject to the satisfaction or (if permitted) waiver of all conditions, the transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2014.
Book value transferred assets		$ 15.2