Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2010

Notes To The Financial Statements [Abstract]

NOTE 9 INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES

Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless entities which are accounted for using either the equity or cost method as shown in the following table:

December 31,		2010			2009
(Dollars in thousands)
Equity method investments:
	Capital contributions, loans and advances	$	21,714		$	21,120
	Goodwill		1,171			1,171
	Cumulative share of income		857,533			768,005
	Cumulative share of distributions		(721,182	)		(630,426	)
			159,236			159,870
Cost method investments			1,611			1,611
Total investments in unconsolidated entities		$	160,847		$	161,481

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities totaled $97.3 million, $96.8 million and $92.0 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively; of those amounts, U.S. Cellular's investment in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (“LA Partnership”) contributed $64.8 million, $64.7 million and $66.1 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. U.S. Cellular held a 5.5% ownership interest in the LA Partnership throughout and at the end of each of these years.

The following tables, which are based on information provided in part by third parties, summarize the combined assets, liabilities and equity, and the combined results of operations of U.S. Cellular's equity method investments:

December 31,		2010		2009
(Dollars in thousands)
Assets
	Current	$	411,000	$	418,000
	Due from affiliates		377,000		468,000
	Property and other		1,962,000		1,869,000
		$	2,750,000	$	2,755,000

Liabilities and Equity
	Current liabilities	$	277,000	$	249,000
	Deferred credits		70,000		68,000
	Long-term liabilities		25,000		26,000
	Long-term capital lease obligations		44,000		43,000
	Partners' capital and shareholders' equity		2,334,000		2,369,000
		$	2,750,000	$	2,755,000

Year Ended December 31,		2010		2009		2008
(Dollars in thousands)
Results of Operations
	Revenues	$	4,950,000	$	4,793,000	$	4,764,000
	Operating expenses		3,549,000		3,418,000		3,358,000
	Operating income		1,401,000		1,375,000		1,406,000
	Other income, net		38,000		43,000		27,000
	Net income	$	1,439,000	$	1,418,000	$	1,433,000