Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Operating revenues
Service	$ 895,960	$ 851,063	$ 2,548,544	$ 2,548,149
Equipment sales	172,946	149,356	461,274	335,854
Total operating revenues	1,068,906	1,000,419	3,009,818	2,884,003
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	198,982	199,750	585,935	567,488
Cost of equipment sold	287,256	307,862	779,228	850,314
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $22.0 million and $21.5 million, respectively, for the three months, and $65.7 million and $65.6 million, respectively, for the nine months)	374,585	397,545	1,106,524	1,197,361
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	152,369	148,952	450,035	465,042
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	2,618	7,947	12,268	16,774
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(643)	(10,283)	(113,825)	(27,694)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(23,986)		(146,884)	(91,446)
Total operating expenses	991,181	1,051,773	2,673,281	2,977,839
Operating income (loss)	77,725	(51,354)	336,537	(93,836)
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	39,674	35,971	109,729	106,166
Interest and dividend income	9,299	3,572	25,834	6,029
Interest expense	(21,121)	(13,514)	(61,239)	(42,712)
Other, net	78	95	274	281
Total investment and other income	27,930	26,124	74,598	69,764
Income (loss) before income taxes	105,655	(25,230)	411,135	(24,072)
Income tax expense (benefit)	40,634	(1,459)	161,214	746
Net income (loss)	65,021	(23,771)	249,921	(24,818)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1,427	(1,606)	6,911	(3,346)
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 63,594	$ (22,165)	$ 243,010	$ (21,472)
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	84,333	84,233	84,224	84,262
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.75	$ (0.26)	$ 2.89	$ (0.25)
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	84,947	84,233	84,869	84,262
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.75	$ (0.26)	$ 2.86	$ (0.25)