Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Lease Commitments And Purchase Agreements [Abstract]
Operating leases	U.S. Cellular is a party to various lease agreements, both as lessee and lessor, for office space, retail store sites, cell sites and equipment which are accounted for as operating leases. Certain leases have renewal options and/or fixed rental increases. Renewal options that are reasonably assured of exercise are included in determining the lease term. Any rent abatements or lease incentives, in addition to fixed rental increases, are included in the calculation of rent expense and calculated on a straight-line basis over the defined lease term.
Capital leases	U.S. Cellular accounts for certain lease agreements as capital leases. The short- and long-term portions of capital lease obligations totaled $0.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010, and $0.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2009. The short- and long-term portions of capital lease obligations are included in Current portion of long-term debt and Long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Short-term capital lease obligation	$ 101	$ 76
Long-term capital lease obligation	$ 4,284	$ 4,320

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal, through the balance sheet date and due to be paid within one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) of the balance sheet date.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 7, 10, 13

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

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- Definition

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal, through the balance sheet date and due to be paid more than one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) after the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

A general description of the lessee's leasing arrangements including, but not limited to, the following: a) the basis on which contingent rental payments are determined; (b) the existence and terms of renewal or purchase options and escalation clauses; (c) restrictions imposed by lease agreements, such as those concerning dividends, additional debt, and further leasing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 01-8

-Paragraph 7, 8, 10, 14

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph d

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 1

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A general description of the nature of the existing leasing arrangements of a lessor' for all operating leases including, but not limited to: (1) rental escalation clauses; (2) renewal or purchase options; (3) guarantees or indemnities, if any, (4) restrictions imposed by lease arrangements; (5) unusual provisions or conditions; (6) contingent rentals, if any; and (7) lease expiration dates.

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