XML 56 R62.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities, Deconsolidation (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Apr. 03, 2013
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships      
Investments in unconsolidated entities $ 265,585,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures $ 283,014,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures  
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership      
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships      
Ownership interest in equity method investment 60.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation1Member
   
New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership      
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships      
Ownership interest in equity method investment 57.14%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation2Member
   
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership      
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships      
Date of deconsolidation Apr. 03, 2013    
Investments in unconsolidated entities     114,800,000us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
Deconsolidation gain $ 18,500,000us-gaap_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmount
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
   
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership      
Fair Value Inputs      
Average expected revenue growth rate (next ten years) 2.00%usm_FairValueInputsRevenueGrowthRate
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember
   
Terminal revenue growth rate (after year ten) 2.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsLongTermRevenueGrowthRate
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember
   
Discount rate 10.50%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember
   
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | Minimum | St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership      
Fair Value Inputs      
Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue 14.90%usm_FairValueInputsCapitalExpenditurePercentage
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember
   
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | Maximum | St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership      
Fair Value Inputs      
Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue 18.80%usm_FairValueInputsCapitalExpenditurePercentage
/ usm_DeconsolidationAxis
= usm_Deconsolidation3Member
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_ValuationTechniqueAxis
= us-gaap_IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember