Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 211,513	$ 342,065
Short-term investments		50,104us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesCurrent
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $37,654 and $59,206, respectively	466,048us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	467,255us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Roaming	23,865usm_ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	30,136usm_ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming
Affiliated	994us-gaap_DueFromAffiliateCurrent	980us-gaap_DueFromAffiliateCurrent
Other, less allowances of $859 and $1,032, respectively	66,051us-gaap_OtherReceivables	88,224us-gaap_OtherReceivables
Inventory, net	267,068us-gaap_InventoryNet	238,188us-gaap_InventoryNet
Prepaid expenses	59,744us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseCurrent	65,596us-gaap_PrepaidExpenseCurrent
Net deferred income tax asset	93,058	99,105
Other current assets	90,834us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent	19,538us-gaap_OtherAssetsCurrent
Total current assets	1,279,175us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	1,401,191us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Assets held for sale	107,055	16,027
Investments
Licenses	1,443,438	1,401,126
Goodwill	370,151us-gaap_Goodwill	387,524us-gaap_Goodwill
Investments in unconsolidated entities	283,014	265,585
Total investments	2,096,603us-gaap_LongTermInvestments	2,054,235us-gaap_LongTermInvestments
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction	7,458,740us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	7,717,512us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,730,523	4,860,992
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,728,217us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2,856,520us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Other assets and deferred charges	276,218us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	117,735us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Total assets	6,487,268us-gaap_Assets	6,445,708us-gaap_Assets
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	46	166
Accounts payable
Affiliated	9,774us-gaap_DueToAffiliateCurrent	11,243us-gaap_DueToAffiliateCurrent
Trade	306,845us-gaap_AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	405,583us-gaap_AccountsPayableTradeCurrent
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	287,562	256,740
Accrued taxes	36,652us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent	73,820us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent
Accrued compensation	66,162	66,566
Other current liabilities	149,853us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	192,055us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities	856,894us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	1,006,173us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Liabilities held for sale	20,934
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability	859,867	836,297
Other deferred liabilities and credits	284,002us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	315,073us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Long-term debt	1,151,819	878,032
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	1,150	536
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	88,074us-gaap_CommonStockValue	88,074us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Additional paid-in capital	1,472,558us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital	1,424,729us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Treasury Shares, at cost	(169,139)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue	(164,692)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValue
Retained earnings	1,910,498	2,043,095
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity	3,301,991us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	3,391,206us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Noncontrolling interests	10,611us-gaap_MinorityInterest	18,391us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Total equity	3,312,602	3,409,597
Total liabilities and equity	$ 6,487,268	$ 6,445,708

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).