Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (46,922)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 144,522us-gaap_ProfitLoss	$ 141,076us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	605,997	803,781	608,633
Bad debts expense	101,282us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	98,864us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	67,372us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Stock-based compensation expense	22,383us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	15,844us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	21,466us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
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Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(129,764)	(131,949)	(90,364)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	112,336	125,660	84,417
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	21,469	30,606	18,088
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(32,830)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	(246,767)us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	21,022us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	(112,993)usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges	(255,479)usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges
(Gain) loss on investments		(18,556)us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments	3,718us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Noncash interest expense	1,155	1,059	(1,822)
Other operating activities	26us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	646us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	546us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	12,547	(291,168)	(64,816)
Equipment installment plans receivable	(188,829)	(591)
Inventory	(28,878)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(82,422)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(28,786)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Accounts payable - trade	(95,587)	85,199	(4,977)
Accounts payable - affiliate	(2,590)	147	(1,458)
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	33,524	66,344	30,353
Accrued taxes	(99,483)	30,037	73,064
Accrued interest	1,307	273	167
Other assets and liabilities	(59,412)	(9,805)	(27,652)
Cash flows from operating activities	172,342	290,897	899,291
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment	(605,083)	(717,862)	(826,400)
Cash paid for aquisitions and licenses	(38,150)	(16,540)	(122,690)
Cash received from divestitures	179,842	811,120	49,932
Cash paid for investments			(120,000)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Cash received for investments	50,000	100,000	125,000
Federal Communications Commission deposit	(60,000)usm_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment
Other investing activities	2,619	(3,969)	(2,453)
Cash flows from investing activities	(470,772)	172,749	(896,611)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt	275,000
Repayment of borrowing under revolving credit facility	(150,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
Borrowing under revolving credit facility	150,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	830	5,784	(2,205)
Common shares repurchased	(18,943)	(18,544)	(20,045)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(9,644)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(23)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(514)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Acquisition of licenses in common control transaction	(76,298)
Dividends paid		(482,270)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,056)	(3,766)	(22,970)
Payments to acquire additional interest in subsidiaries		(1,005)	(3,167)
Other financing activities	(11)	(115)	424
Cash flows from financing activities	167,878	(499,939)	(48,477)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(130,552)	(36,293)	(45,797)
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	342,065	378,358	424,155
End of period	$ 211,513	$ 342,065	$ 378,358

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The total cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders to acquire the entity's shares under incentive and share awards, including stock option exercises. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of long-term debt that is not secured by collateral. Excludes proceeds from tax exempt unsecured debt.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfUnsecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

-Article 4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net cash inflow or outflow from other financing activities. This element is used when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3095-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 9

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3098-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from the sale or maturity of long-term held-to-maturity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26853-111562

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 4K

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736750&loc=SL4591552-111686

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 19

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (a),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 4J

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736750&loc=SL4591551-111686

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow for payment of an obligation from a lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph f

-Article 4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for an FCC license auction deposit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usm_FccLicenseAuctionDepositPayment
Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the difference between the fair value and the book value of the licenses that were sold or exchanged during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usm_GainLossOnLicenseSalesAndExchanges
Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow resulting from the difference between consideration paid and the net book value of the transferred assets in a common control transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

No authoritative reference available.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of businesses and or intangible assets, net of any cash acquired in the business acquisition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	usm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration