Telephone and Data Systems (TDS) 10-K 25 Feb 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	1051512
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$2,456,483,210
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	TDS
Common Shares
Entity Public Float		2,453,235,208
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			100,728,000
Series A Common Shares
Entity Public Float		2,424,002
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			7,179,000
Preferred Shares
Entity Public Float		$824,000

Consolidated_Statement_Of_Oper

Consolidated Statement Of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenues
Service	$4,328,654	$4,443,491	$4,952,603
Equipment and product sales	680,784	457,745	392,674
Total operating revenues	5,009,438	4,901,236	5,345,277
Operating expenses
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	1,164,658	1,118,183	1,274,625
Cost of equipment and products	1,346,811	1,107,133	997,945
Selling, general and administrative	1,865,807	1,947,778	2,033,901
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	836,532	1,018,077	813,626
Loss on impairment of assets	87,802		515
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	26,531	30,841	19,741
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-15,846	-300,656	21,061
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993	-255,479
Total operating expenses	5,199,302	4,665,877	5,161,414
Operating income (loss)	-189,864	235,359	183,863
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	131,965	132,714	92,867
Interest and dividend income	16,957	9,092	9,248
Gain (loss) on investments		14,547	-3,718
Interest expense	-111,397	-98,811	-86,745
Other, net	115	-37	720
Total investment and other income (expense)	37,640	57,505	12,372
Income (loss) before income taxes	-152,224	292,864	196,235
Income tax expense (benefit)	-4,932	126,043	73,582
Net income (loss)	-147,292	166,821	122,653
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	-10,937	24,894	40,792
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders	-136,355	141,927	81,861
TDS Preferred dividend requirement	-49	-49	-50
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	($136,404)	$141,878	$81,811
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	108,485	108,490	108,671
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders	($1.26)	$1.31	$0.75
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	108,485	109,132	108,937
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders	($1.26)	$1.29	$0.75
Dividends per share to TDS shareholders	$0.54	$0.51	$0.49

Consolidated_Statement_Of_Comp

Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss)	($147,292)	$166,821	$122,653
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments	341	51	49
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment	48	-34	4
Change related to retirement plan
Net actuarial gains (losses)	10,990	13,345	90
Prior service cost	2,057
Amortization of prior service cost	-3,644	-3,605	-3,735
Amortization of unrecognized net loss	1,287	2,452	2,517
Total gains (losses) recognized in Comprehensive Income before income tax benefit (expense)	10,690	12,192	-1,128
Change in deferred income taxes	-4,058	-4,646	1,797
Change related to retirement plan, net of tax	6,632	7,546	669
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	7,021	7,563	722
Comprehensive income (loss)	-140,271	174,384	123,375
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	10,937	24,894	40,792
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders	($151,208)	$149,490	$82,583

Consolidated_Statement_Of_Cash

Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	($147,292)	$166,821	$122,653
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	836,532	1,018,077	813,626
Bad debts expense	107,861	105,629	74,695
Stock-based compensation expense	35,793	30,338	41,871
Deferred income taxes, net	71,713	-67,150	58,785
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	-131,965	-132,714	-92,867
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	112,349	127,929	84,884
Loss on impairment of assets	87,802		515
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	26,531	30,841	19,741
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-15,846	-300,656	21,061
(Gain) loss on investments		-14,547	3,718
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993	-255,479
Noncash interest expense	1,642	2,463	-572
Other operating activities	-641	612	1,393
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	17,629	-293,729	-81,107
Equipment installment plans receivable	-188,829	-591
Inventory	-29,149	-83,536	-29,917
Accounts payable	-117,264	86,028	-12,332
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	33,952	66,460	32,981
Accrued taxes	-122,921	17,388	77,458
Accrued interest	1,277	380	-891
Other assets and liabilities	-71,369	-9,954	-30,523
Cash flows from operating activities	394,812	494,610	1,105,172
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash used for additions to property, plant and equipment	-799,496	-883,797	-995,517
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses	-295,253	-314,570	-163,382
Cash received from divestitures	187,645	811,120	50,182
Cash paid for investments			-120,000
Cash received for investments	50,000	115,000	243,444
Federal Communications Commission deposit	-60,000
Other investing activities	7,360	11,594	-12,796
Cash flows from investing activities	-909,744	-260,653	-998,069
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt	275,000	37	195,358
Repayment of borrowing under revolving credit facility	-150,000
Borrowing under revolving credit facility	150,000
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	-2,019	9,654	-1,119
U.S. Cellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	830	5,784	-2,205
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	-39,096	-9,692	-20,026
Repurchase of U.S. Cellular Common Shares	-18,943	-18,544	-20,045
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	-58,040	-55,293	-53,165
U.S. Cellular dividends paid to noncontrolling public shareholders		-75,235
Payment of debt issuance costs	-10,215	-23	-8,242
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-627	-3,766	-20,856
Payments to acquire additional interest in subsidiaries		-4,505	-3,167
Other financing activities	9,929	7,159	3,570
Cash flows from financing activities	156,819	-144,424	70,103
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-358,113	89,533	177,206
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	830,014	740,481	563,275
End of period	$471,901	$830,014	$740,481

Consolidated_Balance_Sheet

Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$471,901	$830,014
Short-term investments		50,104
Accounts receivable
Due from customers and agents, less allowances of $41,431 and $63,690, respectively	548,537	551,611
Other, less allowances of $1,141 and $1,914, respectively	135,144	179,503
Inventory, net	273,707	244,560
Net deferred income tax asset	107,686	106,077
Prepaid expenses	86,506	87,920
Income taxes receivable	113,708	2,397
Other current assets	29,766	35,151
Total current assets	1,766,955	2,087,337
Assets held for sale	103,343	16,027
Investments
Licenses	1,453,574	1,423,779
Goodwill	771,352	836,843
Franchise rights	244,300	123,668
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $133,823 and $112,752, respectively	64,499	71,454
Investments in unconsolidated entities	321,729	301,772
Other investments	508	641
Total investments	2,855,962	2,758,157
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction	11,194,044	11,239,804
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	7,347,919	7,361,660
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,846,125	3,878,144
Other assets and deferred charges	334,554	164,482
Total assets	8,906,939	8,904,147
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	808	1,646
Accounts payable	387,125	496,069
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	324,318	289,445
Accrued interest	7,919	6,673
Accrued taxes	46,734	70,518
Accrued compensation	114,549	115,031
Other current liabilities	181,803	212,374
Total current liabilities	1,063,256	1,191,756
Liabilities held for sale	21,643
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability	941,519	862,975
Other deferred liabilities and credits	430,774	458,709
Long-term debt	1,993,586	1,720,074
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	1,150	536
TDS shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares	1,327	1,327
Capital in excess of par value	2,336,511	2,308,807
Treasury shares at cost	-748,199	-721,354
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	6,452	-569
Retained earnings	2,330,187	2,529,626
Total TDS shareholders' equity	3,926,278	4,117,837
Preferred shares	824	824
Noncontrolling interests	527,909	551,436
Total equity	4,455,011	4,670,097
Total liabilities and equity	$8,906,939	$8,904,147

Consolidated_Balance_Sheet_Par

Consolidated Balance Sheet Parenthetical (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Current assets
Due from customers and agents, allowances	$41,431	$63,690
Other, allowances	1,141	1,914
Investments
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	133,823	112,752
TDS shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	290,000	290,000
Issued shares	132,749	132,711
Outstanding shares	107,899	108,757
Par value	1,327	1,327
Treasury Shares
TDS shareholders' equity
Treasury shares	24,850	23,954
Series A Common Shares
TDS shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	25,000	25,000
Issued shares	7,179	7,166
Outstanding shares	7,179	7,166
Par value per share	$0.01	$0.01
Par value	72	72
Common Shares
TDS shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	265,000	265,000
Issued shares	125,570	125,545
Outstanding shares	100,720	101,591
Par value per share	$0.01	$0.01
Par value	$1,255	$1,255
Common Shares | Treasury Shares
TDS shareholders' equity
Treasury shares	24,850	23,954

Consolidated_Statement_of_Chan

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (USD $)	Total	Series A Common and Common Shares	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Treasury Common Shares	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Total TDS Shareholders' Equity	Preferred Shares	Noncontrolling Interests
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$4,602,679	$1,326	$2,268,711	($750,921)	($8,854)	$2,451,899	$3,962,161	$830	$639,688
Add (Deduct)
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders	81,861					81,861	81,861
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity	40,739								40,739
Net unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments	49				49		49
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment	4				4		4
Changes related to retirement plan	669				669		669
TDS Common and Series A Common Share dividends	-53,115					-53,115	-53,115
TDS Preferred dividend requirement	-50					-50	-50
Repurchase of Preferred Shares	-22					-17	-17	-5
Repurchase of Common Shares	-20,026			-20,026			-20,026
Dividend reinvestment plan	6,923	1	1,148	14,123		-8,349	6,923
Incentive and compensation plans	-742		444	6,725		-7,911	-742
Adjust investment in subsidiaries for repurchases, issuances and other compensation plans	-2,352		12,572				12,572		-14,924
Stock-based compensation awards	20,030		20,030				20,030
Tax windfall (shortfall) from stock awards	-3,179		-3,179				-3,179
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-20,856								-20,856
Adjust investment in subsidiaries for noncontrolling interest purchases	3,658		4,396				4,396		-738
Other	57								57
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	4,656,327	1,327	2,304,122	-750,099	-8,132	2,464,318	4,011,536	825	643,966
Add (Deduct)
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders	141,927					141,927	141,927
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity	24,661								24,661
Net unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments	51				51		51
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment	-34				-34		-34
Changes related to retirement plan	7,546				7,546		7,546
TDS Common and Series A Common Share dividends	-55,244					-55,244	-55,244
TDS Preferred dividend requirement	-49					-49	-49
U.S. Cellular dividends paid to noncontrolling public shareholders	-75,235								-75,235
Repurchase of Preferred Shares	-6					-5	-5	-1
Repurchase of Common Shares	-9,692			-9,692			-9,692
Dividend reinvestment plan	9,300		1,619	13,647		-5,966	9,300
Incentive and compensation plans	10,090		655	24,790		-15,355	10,090
Adjust investment in subsidiaries for repurchases, issuances and other compensation plans	-270		-290				-290		20
Stock-based compensation awards	14,430		14,430				14,430
Tax windfall (shortfall) from stock awards	-1,311		-1,311				-1,311
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-3,576								-3,576
Adjust investment in subsidiaries for noncontrolling interest purchases	-5,048		-10,418				-10,418		5,370
Deconsolidation of partnerships	-43,770								-43,770
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	4,670,097	1,327	2,308,807	-721,354	-569	2,529,626	4,117,837	824	551,436
Add (Deduct)
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders	-136,355					-136,355	-136,355
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity	-11,614								-11,614
Net unrealized gain (loss) on equity investments	341				341		341
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment	48				48		48
Changes related to retirement plan	6,632				6,632		6,632
TDS Common and Series A Common Share dividends	-57,991					-57,991	-57,991
TDS Preferred dividend requirement	-49					-49	-49
Repurchase of Common Shares	-39,096			-39,096			-39,096
Dividend reinvestment plan	9,795		2,702	7,093			9,795
Incentive and compensation plans	-1,466		-1,580	5,158		-5,044	-1,466
Adjust investment in subsidiaries for repurchases, issuances and other compensation plans	723		12,072				12,072		-11,349
Stock-based compensation awards	14,182		14,182				14,182
Tax windfall (shortfall) from stock awards	328		328				328
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-564								-564
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$4,455,011	$1,327	$2,336,511	($748,199)	$6,452	$2,330,187	$3,926,278	$824	$527,909

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements	NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
	Nature of Operations
	Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) is a diversified telecommunications company providing high-quality telecommunications services to approximately 4.8 million wireless customers and 1.2 million wireline and cable connections at December 31, 2014. TDS conducts all of its wireless operations through its 84%-owned subsidiary, United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”). TDS provides wireline services, cable services and hosted and managed services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, TDS Telecommunications Corporation (“TDS Telecom”).
	TDS has the following reportable segments: U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom's Wireline, Cable and Hosted and Managed Services (“HMS”) operations. TDS' non-reportable other business activities are presented as “Corporate, Eliminations and Other”. This includes the operations of TDS' majority owned printing and distribution company, Suttle-Straus, Inc. (“Suttle-Straus”) and TDS' wholly owned subsidiary, Airadigm Communications, Inc. (“Airadigm”). Suttle-Straus and Airadigm's financial results were not significant to TDS' operations. All of TDS' segments operate only in the United States, except for HMS, which includes an insignificant foreign operation. See Note 18 — Business Segment Information for summary financial information on each business segment.
	Principles of Consolidation
	The accounting policies of TDS conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Unless otherwise specified, references to accounting provisions and GAAP in these notes refer to the requirements of the FASB ASC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TDS, its majority-owned subsidiaries, general partnerships in which it has a majority partnership interest and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which TDS is the primary beneficiary. Both VIE and primary beneficiary represent terms defined by GAAP.
	Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications did not affect consolidated net income attributable to TDS shareholders, cash flows, assets, liabilities or equity for the years presented.
	In 2014, TDS began presenting separately Equipment and product sales and Cost of equipment and products. As a result of recent HMS acquisitions, these amounts are now more significant to TDS and, accordingly, are shown as separate captions under Operating revenues and Operating expenses, respectively, on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Amounts in 2013 and 2012 have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. The separate presentation of Equipment and product sales and Cost of equipment and products had no other impact on the TDS financial statements.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (a) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and (b) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are involved in accounting for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, income taxes, the loyalty reward program and equipment installment plans.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
	U.S. Cellular's accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts owed by customers for wireless services and equipment sales, including sales of certain devices under equipment installment plans, by agents for sales of equipment to them and by other wireless carriers whose customers have used U.S. Cellular's wireless systems.
	TDS Telecom's accounts receivable primarily consist of amounts owed by customers for services and products provided, by interexchange carriers for long-distance traffic which TDS Telecom carries on its network, and by interstate and intrastate revenue pools that distribute access charges.
	The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses related to existing billed and unbilled accounts receivable. The allowance is estimated based on historical experience, account aging and other factors that could affect collectability. Accounts receivable balances are reviewed on either an aggregate or individual basis for collectability depending on the type of receivable. When it is probable that an account balance will not be collected, the account balance is charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. TDS does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
	The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
			2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Beginning balance		$	65,604	$	33,415	$	31,071
		Additions, net of recoveries		107,861		105,629		74,695
		Deductions		-124,828		-73,440		-72,351
	Ending balance (1)		$	48,637	$	65,604	$	33,415
	-1	In 2014, this balance includes a $6.1 million allowance related to the long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment receivables.
	Inventory
	Inventory consists primarily of wireless devices stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method and market determined by replacement costs or estimated net realizable value. TDS Telecom's materials and supplies are stated at average cost.
	Goodwill
	TDS has Goodwill as a result of its acquisition of wireless, wireline, HMS, and cable companies and, under previous business combination guidance in effect prior to 2009, step acquisitions related to U.S. Cellular's repurchase of its common shares. Such Goodwill represents the excess of the total purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in these transactions. TDS performs its annual impairment assessment of Goodwill as of November 1 of each year.
	See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional details related to Goodwill.
	U.S. Cellular
	For purposes of conducting its Goodwill impairment test in 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular identified four reporting units. The four reporting units represent four geographic groupings of operating markets, representing four geographic service areas. A discounted cash flow approach was used to value each reporting unit for purposes of the Goodwill impairment review.
	TDS Telecom
	For purposes of the 2014 annual impairment testing, TDS Telecom has identified three reporting units: Wireline, HMS and Cable. For purposes of the 2013 annual impairment testing, TDS Telecom had three reporting units: incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”), HMS and Cable. During 2014, the ILEC operations were combined with the competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) operations to create the Wireline reporting unit. There is no Goodwill at the CLEC operations. The discounted cash flow approach and guideline public company method were used to value the Wireline and Cable reporting units for the 2014 annual impairment test. For the 2014 annual impairment test, TDS Telecom performed a qualitative assessment of the HMS reporting unit.
	Licenses
	Licenses consist of direct and incremental costs incurred in acquiring Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses to provide wireless service.
	TDS has determined that wireless licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets and, therefore, not subject to amortization based on the following factors:
	Radio spectrum is not a depleting asset.
	The ability to use radio spectrum is not limited to any one technology.
	TDS and its consolidated subsidiaries are licensed to use radio spectrum through the FCC licensing process, which enables licensees to utilize specified portions of the spectrum for the provision of wireless service.
	TDS and its consolidated subsidiaries are required to renew their FCC licenses every ten years or, in some cases, every fifteen years. To date, all of TDS' license renewal applications have been granted by the FCC. Generally, license renewal applications filed by licensees otherwise in compliance with FCC regulations are routinely granted. If, however, a license renewal application is challenged either by a competing applicant for the license or by a petition to deny the renewal application, the license will be renewed if the licensee can demonstrate its entitlement to a “renewal expectancy.” Licensees are entitled to such an expectancy if they can demonstrate to the FCC that they have provided “substantial service” during their license term and have “substantially complied” with FCC rules and policies. TDS believes that it is probable that its future license renewal applications will be granted.
	U.S. Cellular performs its annual impairment assessment of its licenses as of November 1 of each year. For purposes of its 2014 and 2013 impairment testing of Licenses, U.S. Cellular separated its FCC licenses into eleven units of accounting based on geographic service areas. In both 2014 and 2013, seven of the units of accounting represented geographic groupings of licenses which, because they were not being utilized and, therefore, were not expected to generate cash flows from operating activities in the foreseeable future, were considered separate units of accounting for purposes of impairment testing. U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of built licenses for purposes of impairment testing using the build-out method. The build-out method estimates the fair value of Licenses by discounting to present value the future cash flows calculated based on a hypothetical cost to build-out U.S. Cellular's network.
	For units of accounting which consist of unbuilt licenses, the fair value of the unbuilt licenses is assumed to change by the same percentage, and in the same direction, that the fair value of built licenses measured using the build-out method changed during the period.
	See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional details related to Licenses.
	Franchise rights
	TDS has Franchise rights as a result of acquisitions of cable businesses. Franchise rights are intangible assets that provide their holder with the right to operate a business in a certain geographical location as sanctioned by the franchiser, usually a government agency. TDS has determined that Franchise rights are indefinite-lived intangible assets and, therefore, not subject to amortization because TDS expects both the renewal by the granting authorities and the cash flows generated from the Franchise rights to continue indefinitely. Cable Franchise rights are generally granted for ten year periods and may be renewed for additional terms upon approval by the granting authority. TDS anticipates that future renewals of its Franchise rights will be granted.
	TDS Telecom performs its annual impairment assessment of Franchise rights as of November 1 of each year. TDS Telecom tests Franchise rights for impairment at a unit of accounting level. For purposes of its impairment testing of Franchise rights, TDS Telecom identified one unit of accounting. TDS Telecom estimates the fair value of franchise rights for purposes of impairment testing using the build-out method. For the 2013 annual impairment test, TDS Telecom performed a qualitative assessment of the Franchise rights.
	See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional details related to Franchise rights.
	Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
	For its equity method investments for which financial information is readily available, TDS records its equity in the earnings of the entity in the current period. For its equity method investments for which financial information is not readily available, TDS records its equity in the earnings of the entity on a one quarter lag basis.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment is stated at the original cost of construction or purchase including capitalized costs of certain taxes, payroll-related expenses, interest and estimated costs to remove the assets.
	Expenditures that enhance the productive capacity of assets in service or extend their useful lives are capitalized and depreciated. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs of assets in service are charged to Cost of services and products or Selling, general and administrative expense, as applicable. Retirements and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the original cost of the asset (along with the related accumulated depreciation) from plant in service and charging it, together with net removal costs (removal costs less an applicable accrued asset retirement obligation and salvage value realized), to (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net.
	TDS capitalizes certain costs of developing new information systems.
	Depreciation and amortization
	Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset, except for certain Wireline segment assets, which use the group depreciation method. The group depreciation method develops a depreciation rate based on the average useful life of a specific group of assets, rather than each asset individually. TDS depreciates leasehold improvement assets associated with leased properties over periods ranging from one to thirty years; such periods approximate the shorter of the assets' economic lives or the specific lease terms.
	Useful lives of specific assets are reviewed throughout the year to determine if changes in technology or other business changes would warrant accelerating the depreciation of those specific assets. Due to the Divestiture Transaction more fully described in Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, U.S. Cellular changed the useful lives of certain assets in 2013 and 2012. Other than the Divestiture Transaction, there were no other material changes to useful lives of property, plant and equipment in 2014, 2013 or 2012. TDS Telecom did not materially change the useful lives of its property, plant and equipment in 2014, 2013 or 2012. See Note 9 — Property, Plant and Equipment for additional details related to useful lives.
	Impairment of Long-lived Assets
	TDS reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired.
	U.S. Cellular has one asset group for purposes of assessing property, plant and equipment for impairment based on the fact that the individual operating markets are reliant on centrally operated data centers, mobile telephone switching offices and network operations center. U.S. Cellular operates a single integrated national wireless network, and the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities represent cash flows generated by this single interdependent network.
	TDS Telecom has three asset groups of Wireline, Cable and HMS for purposes of assessing property, plant and equipment for impairment based on their integrated network, assets and operations. The cash flows generated by each of these groups is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities.
	Agent Liabilities
	U.S. Cellular has relationships with agents, which are independent businesses that obtain customers for U.S. Cellular. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular had accrued $95.3 million and $121.3 million, respectively, for amounts due to agents. This amount is included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Other Assets and Deferred Charges
Other assets and deferred charges include underwriters' and legal fees and other charges related to issuing various borrowing instruments and other long-term agreements, and are amortized over the respective term of each instrument. The amounts of deferred charges included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2014 and 2013, are shown net of accumulated amortization of $58.1 million and $41.4 million, respectively. At December 31, 2014, Other assets and deferred charges includes a $60.0 million deposit made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. to the FCC to participate in Auction 97. See Note 14 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.
Asset Retirement Obligations
TDS accounts for asset retirement obligations by recording the fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement in the period in which the obligations are incurred. At the time the liability is incurred, TDS records a liability equal to the net present value of the estimated cost of the asset retirement obligation and increases the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by an equal amount. Until the obligation is fulfilled, TDS updates its estimates relating to cash flows required and timing of settlement. TDS records the present value of the changes in the future value as an increase or decrease to the liability and the related carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to future value over a period ending with the estimated settlement date of the respective asset retirement obligation. The carrying amount of the long-lived asset is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the recorded liability is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Treasury Shares
Common Shares repurchased by TDS are recorded at cost as treasury shares and result in a reduction of equity. Treasury shares are reissued as part of TDS' stock-based compensation programs. When treasury shares are reissued, TDS determines the cost using the first-in, first-out cost method. The difference between the cost of the treasury shares and reissuance price is included in Capital in excess of par value or Retained earnings.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues related to services are recognized as services are rendered. Revenues billed in advance or in arrears of the services being provided are estimated and deferred or accrued, as appropriate.
Revenues from sales of equipment, products and accessories are recognized when title and risk of loss passes to the agent or end-user customer.
Multiple Deliverable Arrangements
U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom sell multiple element service and equipment offerings. In these instances, revenues are allocated using the relative selling price method. Under this method, arrangement consideration, which consists of the amounts billed to the customer net of any cash-based discounts, is allocated to each element on the basis of its relative selling price. Revenue recognized for the delivered items is limited to the amount due from the customer that is not contingent upon the delivery of additional products or services.
Loyalty Reward Program
U.S. Cellular follows the deferred revenue method of accounting for its loyalty reward program. Under this method, revenue allocated to loyalty reward points is deferred. The amount allocated to the loyalty points is based on the estimated retail price of the products and services for which points may be redeemed divided by the number of loyalty points required to receive such products and services. This is calculated on a weighted average basis and requires U.S. Cellular to estimate the percentage of loyalty points that will be redeemed for each product or service.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular had deferred revenue related to loyalty reward points outstanding of $94.6 million and $116.2 million, respectively. These amounts are recorded in Customer deposits and deferred revenues (a current liability account) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, as customers may redeem their reward points within the current period.
Revenue is recognized at the time of customer redemption or when such points have been depleted via an account maintenance charge. U.S. Cellular employs the proportional model to recognize revenues associated with breakage. Under the proportional model, U.S. Cellular allocates a portion of the estimated future breakage to each redemption and records revenue proportionally. U.S. Cellular periodically reviews and revises the redemption and depletion rates to estimate future breakage as appropriate based on history and related future expectations.
In the fourth quarter of 2013, U.S. Cellular issued loyalty reward points with a value of $43.5 million as a loyalty bonus in recognition of the inconvenience experienced by customers during U.S. Cellular's billing system conversion in 2013. The value of the loyalty bonus reduced Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and increased Customer deposits and deferred revenues in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Equipment Installment Plans
U.S. Cellular equipment revenue under equipment installment plan contracts is recognized at the time the device is delivered to the end-user customer for the selling price of the device, net of any deferred imputed interest or trade-in right, if applicable.   Imputed interest is reflected as a reduction to the receivable balance and recognized over the duration of the plan as a component of Interest and dividend income. See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans for additional information.
Incentives
Discounts and incentives are recognized as a reduction of Operating revenues concurrently with the associated revenue, and are allocated to the various products and services in the bundled offering based on their respective relative selling price.
U.S. Cellular issues rebates to its agents and end customers. These incentives are recognized as a reduction to revenue at the time the wireless device sale to the agent or customer occurs, respectively. The total potential rebates and incentives are reduced by U.S. Cellular's estimate of rebates that will not be redeemed by customers based on historical experience of such redemptions.
Activation Fees
TDS charges its end customers activation fees in connection with the sale of certain services and equipment. Activation fees charged by TDS Telecom in conjunction with a service offering are deferred and recognized over the average customer's service period. Device activation fees charged at U.S. Cellular agent locations, where U.S. Cellular does not also sell a wireless device to the customer, are deferred and recognized over the average device life. Device activation fees charged as a result of device sales at U.S. Cellular company-owned retail stores are recognized at the time the device is delivered to the customer.
Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities – Gross vs. Net
TDS records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities net within a tax liability account if the tax is assessed upon the customer and TDS merely acts as an agent in collecting the tax on behalf of the imposing governmental authority. If the tax is assessed upon TDS, then amounts collected from customers as recovery of the tax are recorded in Service revenues and amounts remitted to governmental authorities are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities totaled $113.5 million, $131.0 million and $152.4 million for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Wholesale Revenues
TDS Telecom earns Wholesale revenues in its Wireline segment as a result of its participation in revenue pools with other telephone companies for interstate revenue and for certain intrastate revenue. Such pools are funded by long distance revenue and/or access charges within state jurisdictions and by access charges in the interstate jurisdiction. Wholesale revenues earned through the various pooling processes are recorded based on estimates following the National Exchange Carrier Association's rules as approved by the FCC.
Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”) Revenues
Telecommunications companies may be designated by states, or in some cases by the FCC, as an ETC to receive support payments from the Universal Service Fund if they provide specified services in “high cost” areas. ETC revenues recognized in the reporting period represent the amounts which U.S. Cellular is entitled to receive for such period, as determined and approved in connection with U.S. Cellular's designation as an ETC in various states.
Advertising Costs
TDS expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $228.5 million, $212.8 million and $240.9 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Income Taxes
TDS files a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred taxes are computed using the liability method, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for future deductible temporary differences and operating loss carryforwards, and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for future taxable temporary differences. Both deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates anticipated to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. TDS evaluates income tax uncertainties, assesses the probability of the ultimate settlement with the applicable taxing authority and records an amount based on that assessment.
Stock-Based Compensation
TDS has established long-term incentive plans, dividend reinvestment plans, and a Non-Employee Director compensation plan. See Note 17 — Stock-based Compensation for additional information. The dividend reinvestment plan of TDS is not considered a compensatory plan and, therefore, recognition of compensation costs for grants made under this plan is not required. All other plans are considered compensatory plans; therefore, recognition of compensation costs for grants made under these plans is required.
TDS values its share-based payment transactions using a Black-Scholes valuation model. Stock-based compensation cost recognized during the period is based on the portion of the share-based payment awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost recognized has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Pre-vesting forfeitures and expected life are estimated based on historical experience related to similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. TDS believes that its historical experience provides the best estimates of future pre-vesting forfeitures and future expected life. The expected volatility assumption is based on the historical volatility of TDS' common stock over a period commensurate with the expected life. The dividend yield assumption is equal to the dividends declared in the most recent year as a percentage of the share price on the date of grant. The risk-free interest rate assumption is determined using the U.S. Treasury Yield Curve Rate with a term length that approximates the expected life of the stock options.
Beginning with grants in 2013, newly granted TDS stock option awards cliff vest in three years. TDS stock option awards granted prior to 2013 and U.S. Cellular stock option awards vest on an annual basis in three separate tranches. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which was generally the vesting period, for each separate vesting portion of the awards as if the awards were, in-substance, multiple awards (graded vesting attribution method).
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
On April 10, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”). ASU 2014-08 changes the requirements and disclosures for reporting discontinued operations. TDS was required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-08 effective January 1, 2015, but early adoption was permitted. TDS adopted the provisions of ASU 2014-08 upon its issuance. The adoption of ASU 2014-08 did not have a significant impact on TDS' financial position or results of operations.
On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2017. Early adoption is prohibited. TDS is evaluating what effects the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on TDS' financial position and results of operations.
On August 27, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in financial statements. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15 effective January 1, 2016, but early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to impact TDS' financial position or results of operations.
On January 9, 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 eliminates from GAAP the requirement to separately classify, present and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-01 effective January 1, 2016, but early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-01 is not expected to impact TDS' financial position or results of operations.
On February 18, 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 simplifies consolidation accounting by reducing the number of consolidation models and changing various aspects of current GAAP, including certain consolidation criteria for variable interest entities. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-02 effective January 1, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. TDS is still assessing the impact, if any, the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will have on TDS' financial position or results of operations.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Fair Value Measurements	NOTE 2 FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, TDS did not have any financial or nonfinancial assets or liabilities that were required to be recorded at fair value in its Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP.
	The provisions of GAAP establish a fair value hierarchy that contains three levels for inputs used in fair value measurements. Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in inactive markets. Level 3 inputs are unobservable. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is not representative of its expected performance or its overall risk profile and, therefore, Level 3 assets are not necessarily higher risk than Level 2 assets or Level 1 assets.
	TDS has applied the provisions of fair value accounting for purposes of computing the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes as displayed below.
			Level within the Fair Value Hierarchy	31-Dec-14				31-Dec-13
				Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	471,901	$	471,901	$	830,014	$	830,014
	Short-term investments
		U.S. Treasury Notes	1		-		-		50,104		50,104
	Long-term debt
		Retail	2		1,453,250		1,414,105		1,178,250		1,048,010
		Institutional and other	2		537,471		518,322		537,454		512,635
	Short-term investments are designated as held-to-maturity investments and recorded at amortized cost in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. For these investments, TDS' objective is to earn a higher rate of return on funds that are not anticipated to be required to meet liquidity needs in the near term, while maintaining a low level of investment risk.
	The fair values of Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments approximate their book values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Long-term debt excludes capital lease obligations and the current portion of Long-term debt. The fair value of “Retail” Long-term debt was estimated using market prices for TDS' 7.0% Senior Notes, 6.875% Senior Notes, 6.625% Senior Notes and 5.875% Senior Notes, and U.S. Cellular's 6.95% Senior Notes and 7.25% Senior Notes. TDS' “Institutional” debt consists of U.S. Cellular's 6.7% Senior Notes which are traded over the counter. TDS estimated the fair value of its Institutional and other debt through a discounted cash flow analysis using the interest rates or estimated yield to maturity for each borrowing, which ranged from 0.00% to 7.25% at December 31, 2014 and 0.00% to 7.35% at December 31, 2013.

Equipment_Installment_Plans

Equipment Installment Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Equipment Installment Plans	NOTE 3 EQUIPMENT INSTALLMENT PLANS
	TDS offers customers the option to purchase certain devices under equipment installment contracts over a period of up to 24 months. For certain equipment installment plans, after a specified period of time, the customer may have the right to upgrade to a new device and have the remaining unpaid equipment installment contract balance waived, subject to certain conditions, including trading in the original device in good working condition and signing a new equipment installment contract.  TDS values this trade-in right as a guarantee liability.  The guarantee liability is initially measured at fair value and is determined based on assumptions including the probability and timing of the customer upgrading to a new device and the fair value of the device being traded-in at the time of trade-in. As of December 31, 2014, the guarantee liability related to these plans was $57.5 million and is reflected in Customer deposits and deferred revenues in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	TDS equipment installment plans do not provide for explicit interest charges. For equipment installment plans with duration of greater than twelve months, TDS imputes interest.
	The following table summarizes the unbilled equipment installment plan receivables as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Such amounts are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Accounts receivable – customers and agents and Other assets and deferred charges, where applicable.
	(Dollars in thousands)	31-Dec-14		31-Dec-13
	Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	127,400	$	611
	Short-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		-16,365		-
	Short-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		-3,686		-20
	Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	107,349	$	591
	Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	89,435	$	-
	Long-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		-2,791		-
	Long-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		-6,065		-
	Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	80,579	$	-
	TDS considers the collectability of the equipment installment plan receivables based on historical payment experience, account aging and other qualitative factors. The credit profiles of TDS customers on equipment installment plans are similar to those of TDS customers with traditional subsidized plans. Customers with a higher risk credit profile are required to make a deposit for equipment purchased through an installment contract.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Income Taxes	NOTE 4 INCOME TAXES
	TDS' current income taxes balances at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
	December 31,		2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Federal income taxes receivable (payable)		$	108,820		$	-20,288
	Net state income taxes receivable (payable)			4,391			2,397
	Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows:
	Year Ended December 31,			2014			2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Current
		Federal		$	-87,736		$	181,579		$	9,705
		State			11,091			11,614			5,092
	Deferred
		Federal			41,851			-65,970			61,113
		Federal - valuation allowance adjustment			-10,816			-			-
		State			2,208			-1,180			-2,328
		State - valuation allowance adjustment			38,470			-			-
				$	-4,932		$	126,043		$	73,582
	A reconciliation of TDS' income tax expense computed at the statutory rate to the reported income tax expense, and the statutory federal income tax expense rate to TDS' effective income tax expense rate is as follows:
	Year Ended December 31,		2014						2013					2012
			Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate		Amount		Rate
	(Dollars in millions)
	Statutory federal income tax expense and rate		$	-53.3		35	%		$	102.5		35	%	$	68.7	35	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit (1)			42.8		-28.1				10.5		3.6			8.4	4.2
	Effect of noncontrolling interests			-5.8		3.8				-1		-0.4			-	-
	Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets (2)			-		-				14.9		5.1			-	-
	Correction of deferred taxes (3)			-		-				-		-			-6.1	-3.1
	Change in federal valuation allowance (4)			-8.7		5.7				-		-			-	-
	Goodwill impairment (5)			18.3		-12				-		-			-	-
	Other differences, net			1.8		-1.2				-0.9		-0.3			2.6	1.4
	Total income tax expense and rate		$	-4.9		3.2	%		$	126		43	%	$	73.6	37.5	%
	-1	State income taxes, net of federal benefit, include changes in unrecognized tax benefits as well as adjustments to the valuation allowance. During the third quarter of 2014 TDS recorded a $38.5 million increase to income tax expense related to a valuation allowance recorded against certain state deferred tax assets. In each interim period, TDS evaluates the available positive and negative evidence to assess whether deferred tax assets are realizable, on a more likely than not basis. During the year ended December 31, 2014, based on revised forecasts of future state income, TDS concluded that the negative evidence related to the realization of certain state deferred tax assets outweighed the positive evidence. Accordingly, TDS determined that such deferred tax assets related to certain states were not realizable, on a more likely than not basis.
	-2	Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets represents 2013 tax expense related to the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation and the Divestiture Transaction.
	-3	Correction of deferred taxes reflects immaterial adjustments to correct deferred tax balances in 2012 related to tax basis and law changes that related to periods prior to 2012.
	-4	Change in federal valuation allowance relates primarily to a decrease to income tax expense in the third quarter of 2014 due to a valuation allowance reduction for federal net operating losses previously limited under loss utilization rules. Due to the shutdown of Airadigm’s consumer wireless business and resulting intercompany sale of certain assets by Airadigm to U.S. Cellular during the year (as described in Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges), Airadigm is expected to recognize sufficient taxable income for TDS to utilize the previously limited net operating losses.
	-5	Goodwill impairment reflects an adjustment to increase income tax expense by $18.3 million related to a portion of the goodwill impairment of Suttle-Straus and the HMS reporting unit recorded in 2014 which is nondeductible for income tax purposes. See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional information related to the goodwill impairment.
	Significant components of TDS' deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
	December 31,			2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Deferred tax assets
		Current deferred tax assets		$	113,402		$	114,532
		Net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards			135,676			121,651
		Stock-based compensation			54,789			50,563
		Compensation and benefits - other			11,014			12,681
		Deferred rent			19,604			20,500
		Other			35,523			32,444
	Total deferred tax assets				370,008			352,371
		Less valuation allowance			-113,553			-79,064
	Net deferred tax assets				256,455			273,307
	Deferred tax liabilities
		Property, plant and equipment			667,540			637,090
		Licenses/intangibles			259,865			251,578
		Partnership investments			151,123			136,581
		Other			9,724			4,956
		Total deferred tax liabilities			1,088,252			1,030,205
	Net deferred income tax liability			$	831,797		$	756,898
	At December 31, 2014, TDS and certain subsidiaries had $2,315.3 million of state NOL carryforwards (generating a $111.3 million deferred tax asset) available to offset future taxable income. The state NOL carryforwards expire between 2015 and 2034. Certain subsidiaries had federal NOL carryforwards (generating a $24.3 million deferred tax asset) available to offset their future taxable income. The federal NOL carryforwards expire between 2018 and 2034. A valuation allowance was established for certain state NOL carryforwards and federal NOL carryforwards since it is more likely than not that a portion of such carryforwards will expire before they can be utilized.
	A summary of TDS' deferred tax asset valuation allowance is as follows:
				2014			2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Balance at January 1,			$	79,064		$	70,502		$	49,686
		Charged to income tax expense			34,489			1,954			5,268
		Charged to other accounts			-			6,608			15,548
	Balance at December 31,			$	113,553		$	79,064		$	70,502
As of December 31, 2014, the valuation allowance reduced current deferred tax assets by $5.7 million and noncurrent deferred tax assets by $107.8 million.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
			2014			2013			2012
(Dollars in thousands)
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at January 1,			$	30,390		$	28,420		$	28,841
	Additions for tax positions of current year			7,610			6,388			7,027
	Additions for tax positions of prior years			883			1,858			1,673
	Reductions for tax positions of prior years			-399			-467			-7
	Reductions for settlements of tax positions			-312			-1,337			-21
	Reductions for lapses in statutes of limitations			-356			-4,472			-9,093
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31,			$	37,816		$	30,390		$	28,420
Unrecognized tax benefits are included in Accrued taxes and Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. If these benefits were recognized, they would have reduced income tax expense in 2014, 2013 and 2012 by $24.6 million, $19.8 million and $18.6 million, respectively, net of the federal benefit from state income taxes.
As of December 31, 2014, it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by approximately $10 million in the next twelve months. The nature of the uncertainty relates primarily to state income tax positions and their resolution or the expiration of statutes of limitation.
TDS recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in Income tax expense. The amounts charged to income tax expense related to interest and penalties resulted in an expense of $3.4 million and $0.7 million in 2014 and 2013, respectively, and a benefit of $1.5 million in 2012. Net accrued interest and penalties were $16.2 million and $12.4 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
TDS and its subsidiaries file federal and state income tax returns. TDS remains subject to federal income tax audits for the tax years after 2011. With only a few exceptions, TDS is no longer subject to state income tax audits for years prior to 2010.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Earnings per Share	NOTE 5 EARNINGS PER SHARE
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders is computed by dividing Net income (loss) available to common shareholders of TDS by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders is computed by dividing Net income (loss) available to common shareholders of TDS by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted to include the effects of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities primarily include incremental shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units.
	The amounts used in computing earnings (loss) per common share and the effects of potentially dilutive securities on the weighted average number of common shares were as follows:
	Year Ended December 31,				2014			2013		2012
	(Dollars and shares in thousands, except earnings per share)
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders:
	Net income (loss) available to common shareholders of TDS used in basic earnings (loss) per share				$	-136,404		$	141,878	$	81,811
	Adjustments to compute diluted earnings:
		Noncontrolling interest adjustment				-			-1,058		-640
		Preferred dividend adjustment				-			49		-
	Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders of TDS used in diluted earnings (loss) per share				$	-136,404		$	140,869	$	81,171
	Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share
			Common Shares			101,304			101,339		101,532
			Series A Common Shares			7,181			7,151		7,139
				Total		108,485			108,490		108,671
	Effects of dilutive securities:
		Stock options (1)				-			209		11
		Restricted stock units (1)				-			375		255
		Preferred shares (1)				-			58		-
	Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per share					108,485			109,132		108,937
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders				$	-1.26		$	1.31	$	0.75
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders				$	-1.26		$	1.29	$	0.75
	-1		There were no effects of dilutive securities for the year ended December 31, 2014 due to the net loss for the year.
	On June 25, 2013, U.S. Cellular paid a special cash dividend of $5.75 per share, for an aggregate amount of $482.3 million, to all holders of U.S. Cellular Common Shares and Series A Common Shares as of June 11, 2013. Outstanding U.S. Cellular stock options and restricted stock unit awards were equitably adjusted for the special cash dividend. The impact of such adjustments on the earnings (loss) per share calculation was fully reflected for all years presented.
	Certain Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, vesting of restricted stock units or conversion of convertible preferred shares were not included in average diluted shares outstanding for the calculation of Diluted earnings (loss) per share because their effects were antidilutive. The number of such Common Shares excluded is shown in the table below.
	Year Ended December 31,		2014		2013		2012
	(Shares in thousands)
	Stock options		8,984		7,120		8,130
	Restricted stock units		839		171		154
	Preferred shares		56		-		57

Acquisitions_Divestures_And_Ex

Acquisitions Divestures And Exchanges	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Acquisitions, Divestures and Exchanges	NOTE 6 ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTITURES AND EXCHANGES
	Acquisitions did not have a material impact on TDS' consolidated financial statements for the periods presented and pro forma results, assuming acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of each period presented, would not be materially different from the results reported.
	Divestiture Transaction
	On November 6, 2012, U.S. Cellular entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with subsidiaries of Sprint Corp., fka Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Sprint”). Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, on May 16, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred customers and certain PCS license spectrum to Sprint in U.S. Cellular's Chicago, central Illinois, St. Louis and certain Indiana/Michigan/Ohio markets (“Divestiture Markets”) in consideration for $480 million in cash. The Purchase and Sale Agreement also contemplated certain other agreements, together with the Purchase and Sale Agreement collectively referred to as the “Divestiture Transaction.”
	These other agreements included customer and network transition services agreements, which required U.S. Cellular to provide customer, billing and network services to Sprint for a period of up to 24 months after the May 16, 2013 closing date. Sprint reimbursed U.S. Cellular for providing such services at an amount equal to U.S. Cellular's estimated costs, including applicable overhead allocations. These services were substantially complete as of March 31, 2014. In addition, these agreements require Sprint to reimburse U.S. Cellular up to $200 million (the “Sprint Cost Reimbursement”) for certain network decommissioning costs, network site lease rent and termination costs, network access termination costs, and employee termination benefits for specified engineering employees. It is estimated that up to $175 million of the Sprint Cost Reimbursement will be recorded in (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net and up to $25 million of the Sprint Cost Reimbursement will be recorded in Cost of services the Consolidated Statement of Operations. In 2014 and 2013, $71.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively, of the Sprint Cost Reimbursement had been received and recorded in Cash received from divestitures in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
	Financial impacts of the Divestiture Transaction are classified in the Consolidated Statement of Operations within Operating income. The table below describes the amounts TDS has recognized and expects to recognize in the Consolidated Statement of Operations between the date the Purchase and Sale Agreement was signed and the end of the transition services period.
	(Dollars in thousands)				Expected Period of Recognition	Projected Range				Cumulative Amount Recognized as of December 31, 2014		Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2014		Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2013		Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2012
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net
		Proceeds from Sprint
			Purchase price		2013	$	-480,000	$	-480,000	$	-480,000	$	-	$	-480,000	$	-
			Sprint Cost Reimbursement		2013-2015		-120,000		-175,000		-111,970		-64,329		-47,641		-
		Net assets transferred			2013		160,073		160,073		160,073		-		160,073		-
		Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets			2012-2015		20,000		22,000		20,410		9,735		3		10,672
		Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement			2012-2015		13,000		16,000		14,147		-115		1,653		12,609
		Contract termination costs			2012-2015		70,000		100,000		84,320		24,736		59,525		59
		Transaction costs			2012-2015		5,000		7,000		6,284		719		4,428		1,137
			Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			$	-331,927	$	-349,927	$	-306,736	$	-29,254	$	-301,959	$	24,477
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
		Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values			2012-2014		215,049		215,049		215,049		16,478		178,513		20,058
	(Increase) decrease in Operating income					$	-116,878	$	-134,878	$	-91,687	$	-12,776	$	-123,446	$	44,535
	Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values represents amounts recorded in the specified time periods as a result of a change in estimate for the remaining useful life and salvage value of certain assets and a change in estimate which accelerated the settlement dates of certain asset retirement obligations in conjunction with the Divestiture Transaction. Specifically, for the periods indicated, this is estimated depreciation, amortization and accretion recorded on assets and liabilities of the Divestiture Markets after the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement on November 6, 2012 less depreciation, amortization and accretion that would have been recorded on such assets and liabilities in the normal course, absent the Divestiture Transaction.
	In 2014, TDS recorded $3.4 million of additional Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense for the Divestiture Markets due to higher asset retirement obligation remediation estimates.
	As a result of the transaction, TDS recognized the following amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
						Year Ended December 31, 2014
	(Dollars in thousands)			Balance December 31, 2013		Costs Incurred		Cash Settlements (1)		Adjustments (2)		Balance December 31, 2014
	Accrued compensation
			Employee related costs including severance, retention, outplacement	$	2,053	$	127	$	-1,223	$	-242	$	715
	Accounts payable
			Contract termination costs	$	-	$	4,018	$	-	$	-1,190	$	2,828
	Other current liabilities
			Contract termination costs	$	13,992	$	12,703	$	-22,210	$	3,747	$	8,232
	Other deferred liabilities and credits
			Contract termination costs	$	30,849	$	24,171	$	-3,569	$	-30,411	$	21,040
						Year Ended December 31, 2013
	(Dollars in thousands)			Balance December 31, 2012		Costs Incurred		Cash Settlements (1)		Adjustments (2)		Balance December 31, 2013
	Accrued compensation
			Employee related costs including severance, retention, outplacement	$	12,305	$	6,853	$	-11,905	$	-5,200	$	2,053
	Other current liabilities
			Contract termination costs	$	30	$	22,675	$	-8,713	$	-	$	13,992
	Other deferred liabilities and credits
			Contract termination costs	$	-	$	34,283	$	-3,434	$	-	$	30,849
	-1		Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
	-2		Adjustment to liability represents changes to previously accrued amounts.
	Airadigm Transaction
	On May 23, 2014 (the “Signing Date”), U.S. Cellular entered into a License Purchase and Customer Recommendation Agreement with Airadigm. Pursuant to the License Purchase and Customer Recommendation Agreement, on September 10, 2014, Airadigm transferred to U.S. Cellular Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) spectrum licenses and certain tower assets in certain markets in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan, in consideration for $91.5 million in cash. Since both parties to this transaction are controlled by TDS, upon closing, U.S. Cellular recorded the transferred assets at Airadigm's net book value. The transaction also impacts the expected realization of Airadigm's federal net operating loss carryforwards and therefore TDS reduced its valuation allowance by $10.8 million upon the transaction closing and recognized an income tax benefit for this same amount. See Note 4 — Income Taxes.
	Airadigm has shut down operation of its consumer wireless business and most of the associated network. Except for certain machine to machine operations that will be continued, Airadigm's assets not acquired by U.S. Cellular will be sold or otherwise disposed of, its tower leases, interconnection and other agreements will be terminated and most of its employees have been terminated. The shut-down of Airadigm's consumer wireless business was substantially complete in the third quarter of 2014 while network decommissioning is ongoing. As a result of the Agreement and the related impacts from the shut-down of Airadigm's consumer wireless business discussed herein, TDS recognized expenses related to exit and disposal activities within Operating income in its Statement of Operations between the Signing Date and December 31, 2014:
	(Dollars in thousands)			Projected Range				Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2014
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net
		Charges for the impairment and decommissioning of various operating assets		$	8,000	$	12,000	$	8,467
		Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement			500		1,500		676
		Contract termination costs			10,000		15,000		11,099
			Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	$	18,500	$	28,500	$	20,242
			As a result of the transaction, TDS recognized the following amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
						Year Ended December 31, 2014
	(Dollars in thousands)			Balance May 23, 2014		Costs Incurred		Cash Settlements (1)		Adjustments (2)		Balance December 31, 2014
	Accrued compensation
		Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement		$	-	$	676	$	-523	$	-	$	153
	Other current liabilities
		Contract termination costs		$	-	$	7,475	$	-4,291	$	1,043	$	4,227
	Other deferred liabilities and credits
		Contract termination costs		$	-	$	3,975	$	-	$	-1,396	$	2,579
	-1		Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
	-2		Adjustment to liability represents changes to previously accrued amounts.
	In August 2013, TDS Telecom acquired substantially all of the assets of Baja for $264.1 million in cash. Baja is a cable company that operates in markets primarily in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah and offers broadband, video and voice services, which complement the TDS Telecom portfolio of products. Baja is included in the Cable segment for reporting purposes.
In November 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired seven 700 MHz licenses covering portions of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin for $57.7 million.
TDS' acquisitions in 2014 and 2013 and the allocation of the purchase price for these acquisitions were as follows:
					Allocation of Purchase Price
			Purchase Price (1)		Goodwill (2)		Licenses		Franchise Rights		Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization (3)		Net Tangible Assets/(Liabilities)
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
U.S. Cellular licenses			$	41,707	$	-	$	41,707	$	-	$	-	$	-
TDS Telecom cable businesses				273,789		33,610		2,703		120,979		14,056		102,441
	Total		$	315,496	$	33,610	$	44,410	$	120,979	$	14,056	$	102,441
2013
U.S. Cellular licenses			$	16,540	$	-	$	16,540	$	-	$	-	$	-
TDS Telecom cable business				264,069		61,712		-		123,668		11,542		67,147
TDS Telecom HMS business				43,557		15,203		-		-		17,183		11,171
	Total		$	324,166	$	76,915	$	16,540	$	123,668	$	28,725	$	78,318
-1		Cash amounts paid for acquisitions may differ from the purchase price due to cash acquired in the transactions and the timing of cash payments related to the respective transactions.
-2		The entire amount of Goodwill acquired in 2014 and 2013 was amortizable for income tax purposes.
-3		At the date of acquisition, the weighted average amortization period for Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization acquired was as follows: 2014: 4.6 years for TDS Telecom cable business; 2013: 2.9 years for TDS Telecom cable business and 10 years for TDS HMS business
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the following assets were classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale":
			Current Assets		Other Assets and Deferred Charges		Licenses		Goodwill		Property, Plant and Equipment		Total Assets Held for Sale
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
Divestiture of Spectrum Licenses			$	-	$	-	$	56,809	$	-	$	-	$	56,809
Sale of Business - Towers				1,472		773		-		4,344		31,770		38,359
Divestiture of Wireline markets (1)				215		2		-		4,100		3,858		8,175
	Total		$	1,687	$	775	$	56,809	$	8,444	$	35,628	$	103,343
2013
Divestiture of Spectrum Licenses			$	-	$	-	$	16,027	$	-	$	-	$	16,027
-1		On December 30, 2014, TDS Telecom entered into an agreement with a third party to sell certain Wireline markets.
			Current Liabilities		Other Deferred Liabilities and Credits		Total Liabilities Held for Sale
(Dollars in thousands)
2014
Sale of Business - Towers			$	3,607	$	17,641	$	21,248
Divestiture of Wireline markets				218		177		395
	Total		$	3,825	$	17,818	$	21,643

Intangible_Assets

Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Intangible Assets	NOTE 7 INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	Changes in TDS' Licenses, Franchise rights and Goodwill are presented below. See Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for information regarding transactions which affected Licenses, Franchise rights and Goodwill during the periods. Previously under GAAP, TDS accounted for U.S. Cellular's share repurchases as step acquisitions, allocating a portion of the share repurchase value to TDS' Licenses and Goodwill. Consequently, U.S. Cellular's Licenses and Goodwill on a stand-alone basis do not equal the TDS consolidated Licenses and Goodwill related to U.S. Cellular.
	Licenses
	(Dollars in thousands)			U.S. Cellular			Wireline		Cable		Other (1)		Total
	Balance December 31, 2012			$	1,462,019		$	2,800	$	-	$	15,220	$	1,480,039
		Acquisitions			16,540			-		-		-		16,540
		Transferred to Assets held for sale			-16,027			-		-		-		-16,027
		Divestitures			-59,419			-		-		-		-59,419
		Other			2,646			-		-		-		2,646
	Balance December 31, 2013				1,405,759			2,800		-		15,220		1,423,779
		Acquisitions			41,707			-		2,703		-		44,410
		Transferred to Assets held for sale			-56,809			-		-		-		-56,809
		Exchanges, net			55,780			-		-		-		55,780
		Divestitures			-			-		-		-15,220		-15,220
		Other			1,634			-		-		-		1,634
	Balance December 31, 2014			$	1,448,071		$	2,800	$	2,703	$	-	$	1,453,574
	-1		Represents the transfer of licenses from Airadigm to U.S. Cellular in 2014. See Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.
	Franchise rights
	(Dollars in thousands)			Cable
	Balance December 31, 2012			$	-
		Acquisitions			123,668
	Balance December 31, 2013				123,668
		Acquisitions			120,979
		Divestitures			-347
	Balance December 31, 2014			$	244,300
	Goodwill
	(Dollars in thousands)			U.S. Cellular			Wireline (1)		Cable		HMS		Other (2)		Total
	Balance December 31, 2012 (3)			$	269,307		$	420,458	$	-	$	103,627	$	3,802	$	797,194
		Acquisitions			-			-		61,712		15,203		-		76,915
		Divestitures			-135			-		-		-		-		-135
		NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation			-37,131			-		-		-		-		-37,131
	Balance December 31, 2013				232,041			420,458		61,712		118,830		3,802		836,843
		Acquisitions			-			-		33,610		-		-		33,610
		Loss on impairment			-			-		-		-84,000		-3,802		-87,802
		Divestitures			-291			-2,564		-		-		-		-2,855
		Transferred to Assets held for sale			-4,344			-4,100		-		-		-		-8,444
	Balance December 31, 2014			$	227,406		$	413,794	$	95,322	$	34,830	$	-	$	771,352
	-1		In July 2014, TDS Telecom sold certain Wireline markets.
	-2		TDS performed its annual impairment review of Goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the results of this review, TDS concluded that the entire amount of Goodwill related to Suttle-Straus was impaired, which resulted in a $3.8 million loss on impairment.
	-3		Includes accumulated impairment losses in prior periods as follows: $333.9 million for U.S. Cellular, $29.4 million for Wireline and $0.5 million for Other.
	Interim Goodwill Impairment Assessment
	During the third quarter of 2014, due to a decline in projected revenue and earnings of TDS Telecom's HMS reporting unit compared with previously projected results, TDS determined that an interim impairment test of HMS Goodwill was required. TDS performed the Step 1 Goodwill impairment test, as defined by GAAP, as of August 1, 2014.
	The discounted cash flow approach and guideline public company method were used to value the HMS reporting unit. The discounted cash flow approach uses value drivers and risks specific to the industry and current economic factors. The cash flow estimates incorporated assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value and may not be indicative of TDS Telecom specific assumptions. The most significant assumptions made in this process were the revenue growth rate (shown as a ten year compound annual growth rate in the table below), the terminal revenue growth rate, the discount rate and capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue (shown as a ten year simple average in the table below).
	The guideline public company method develops an indication of fair value by calculating average market pricing multiples for selected publicly-traded companies. The developed multiples were applied to applicable financial measures of the HMS reporting unit to determine fair value. The discounted cash flow approach and guideline public company method were weighted to arrive at the total fair value used for impairment testing.
	The following table represents key assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the HMS reporting unit as of August 1, 2014 using the discounted cash flow approach.
	Key assumptions				HMS
	Revenue growth rate				6.1	%
	Terminal revenue growth rate				2.5	%
	Discount rate				11.5	%
	Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue				8.6	%
	As of August 1, 2014, the carrying value of the HMS reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, a Step 2 Goodwill impairment test was performed. The second step compared the implied fair value of the reporting unit Goodwill to the carrying amount of that Goodwill. To calculate the implied fair value of Goodwill in this second step, TDS allocated the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that reporting unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value was the price paid to acquire the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amount assigned to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit was the implied fair value of Goodwill. Since the carrying amount of Goodwill exceeded the implied fair value of Goodwill, an impairment loss was recognized for that difference. As a result of the Step 2 Goodwill impairment test, TDS recognized a loss on impairment of $84.0 million during the third quarter of 2014.

Investments_In_Unconsolidated_

Investments In Unconsolidated Entities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities	NOTE 8 INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES
	Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless and wireline entities in which TDS holds a noncontrolling interest. These investments are accounted for using either the equity or cost method as shown in the following table:
	December 31,		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Equity method investments:
		Capital contributions, loans, advances and adjustments	$	127,939	$	132,629
		Cumulative share of income		1,323,898		1,186,900
		Cumulative share of distributions		-1,145,438		-1,033,087
				306,399		286,442
	Cost method investments			15,330		15,330
	Total investments in unconsolidated entities		$	321,729	$	301,772
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities totaled $132.0 million, $132.7 million and $92.9 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively; of those amounts, TDS' investment in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (“LA Partnership”) contributed $71.8 million, $78.4 million and $67.2 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. TDS 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 TDS' equity method investments:
	December 31,		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
		Current	$	733,133	$	520,804
		Due from affiliates		303,322		408,735
		Property and other		2,345,562		2,080,436
			$	3,382,017	$	3,009,975
	Liabilities and Equity
		Current liabilities	$	407,073	$	355,167
		Deferred credits		175,516		89,198
		Long-term liabilities		29,342		31,605
		Long-term capital lease obligations		1,722		707
		Partners’ capital and shareholders’ equity		2,768,364		2,533,298
			$	3,382,017	$	3,009,975
	Year Ended December 31,		2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Results of Operations
		Revenues	$	6,700,266	$	6,239,200	$	5,825,150
		Operating expenses		5,063,925		4,492,372		4,381,731
		Operating income		1,636,341		1,746,828		1,443,419
		Other income, net		6,741		4,019		7,190
		Net income	$	1,643,082	$	1,750,847	$	1,450,609
	NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation
	U.S. Cellular holds a 60.00% interest in St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership (“NY1”) and a 57.14% interest in New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership (“NY2”)  (together with NY1, the “Partnerships”). The remaining interests in the Partnerships are held by Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon Wireless”). Prior to April 3, 2013, because U.S. Cellular owned a greater than 50% interest in each of these Partnerships and based on U.S. Cellular's rights under the Partnership Agreements, U.S. Cellular consolidated the financial results of these Partnerships in accordance with GAAP.
	On April 3, 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with Verizon Wireless relating to the Partnerships. The agreement amends the Partnership Agreements in several ways which provide Verizon Wireless with substantive participating rights that allow Verizon Wireless to make decisions that are in the ordinary course of business of the Partnerships and which are significant to directing and executing the activities of the business. Accordingly, as required by GAAP, TDS deconsolidated the Partnerships effective as of April 3, 2013 and thereafter reported them as equity method investments in its consolidated financial statements (“NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation”).  After the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation, U.S. Cellular retained the same ownership percentages in the Partnerships and continues to report the same percentages of income from the Partnerships. Effective April 3, 2013, TDS' income from the Partnerships is reported in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	In accordance with GAAP, as a result of the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation, U.S. Cellular's interest in the Partnerships was reflected in Investments in unconsolidated entities at a fair value of $114.8 million as of April 3, 2013. Recording U.S. Cellular's interest in the Partnerships required allocation of the excess of fair value over book value to customer lists, licenses, a favorable contract and goodwill of the Partnerships. Amortization expense related to customer lists and the favorable contract will be recognized over their respective useful lives and is included in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. In addition, TDS recognized a non-cash pre-tax gain of $14.5 million in the second quarter of 2013. The gain was recorded in Gain (loss) on investments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	The Partnerships were valued using a discounted cash flow approach and a guideline public company method. The discounted cash flow approach uses value drivers and risks specific to the industry and current economic factors and incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value and may not be indicative of TDS specific assumptions.  The most significant assumptions made in this process were the revenue growth rate (shown as a simple average in the table below), the terminal revenue growth rate, discount rate and capital expenditures. The assumptions were as follows:
	Key assumptions
	Average expected revenue growth rate (next ten years)		2	%
	Terminal revenue growth rate (after year ten)		2	%
	Discount rate		10.5	%
	Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue		14.9-18.8	%
	The guideline public company method develops an indication of fair value by calculating average market pricing multiples for selected publicly-traded companies. The developed multiples were applied to applicable financial measures of the Partnerships to determine fair value. The discounted cash flow approach and guideline public company method were weighted to arrive at the total fair value of the Partnerships.

Property_Plant_And_Equipment

Property Plant And Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Property, Plant and Equipment	NOTE 9 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
	U.S. Cellular's Property, plant and equipment in service and under construction, and related accumulated depreciation and amortization, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
			Useful Lives
	December 31,		(Years)	2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Land		N/A	$	35,031	$	36,266
	Buildings		20		296,502		304,272
	Leasehold and land improvements		30-Jan		1,086,718		1,197,520
	Cell site equipment		25-Jul		3,269,609		3,306,575
	Switching equipment		8-May		960,377		1,161,976
	Office furniture and equipment		5-Mar		553,630		539,248
	Other operating assets and equipment		5-Mar		89,663		92,456
	System development		7-Jan		1,042,195		962,698
	Work in process		N/A		125,015		116,501
					7,458,740		7,717,512
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization				-4,730,523		-4,860,992
				$	2,728,217	$	2,856,520
	U.S. Cellular's depreciation and amortization expense totaled $593.2 million, $791.1 million and $597.7 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As a result of the Divestiture Transaction, U.S. Cellular recognized incremental depreciation and amortization in 2014, 2013 and 2012. See Note 6 – Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.
	TDS Telecom's (including Wireline, Cable, and HMS) Property, plant and equipment in service and under construction, and related accumulated depreciation, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
			Useful Lives
	December 31,		(Years)		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Land		N/A	$	16,974	$	12,794
	Buildings		May-40		172,963		148,800
	Cable and wire		15-35		1,628,782		1,523,123
	Network electronic equipment		13-May		1,278,799		1,229,941
	Office furniture and equipment		10-Jul		79,666		74,507
	Other equipment		12-May		102,540		94,438
	System development		7-Mar		241,153		230,416
	Work in process		N/A		91,419		88,614
					3,612,296		3,402,633
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization				-2,518,625		-2,417,999
				$	1,093,671	$	984,634
	The provision for certain Wireline companies' depreciation as a percentage of depreciable property was 5.2% in 2014, 5.3% in 2013 and 5.6% in 2012. TDS Telecom's depreciation and amortization expense related to Property, plant and equipment totaled $195.1 million, $182.6 million and $177.3 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Corporate and other Property, plant and equipment in service and under construction, and related accumulated depreciation, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
	December 31,	2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Property, plant and equipment	$	123,008	$	119,659
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization		-98,771		-82,669
	Total	$	24,237	$	36,990
	Corporate and other fixed assets consist of assets at the TDS corporate offices, Suttle-Straus and Airadigm. Corporate and other depreciation and amortization expense related to Property, plant and equipment totaled $9.3 million, $10.7 million and $10.3 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	In 2014, 2013 and 2012, (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net included charges of $26.5 million, $30.8 million and $19.7 million, respectively, related to disposals of assets, trade-ins of older assets for replacement assets and other retirements of assets from service in the normal course of business.

Asset_Retirement_Obligation

Asset Retirement Obligation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Asset Retirement Obligation	NOTE 10 ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
	U.S. Cellular is subject to asset retirement obligations associated with its leased cell sites, switching office sites, retail store sites and office locations in its operating markets. Asset retirement obligations generally include obligations to restore leased land and retail store and office premises to their pre-lease conditions.
	TDS Telecom owns poles, cable and wire and certain buildings and leases data center and office space and property used for housing central office switching equipment and fiber cable. These assets and leases often have removal or remediation requirements associated with them. For example, TDS Telecom's poles, cable and wire are often located on property that is not owned by TDS Telecom and are often subject to the provisions of easements, permits, or leasing arrangements. Pursuant to the terms of the permits, easements, or leasing arrangements, TDS Telecom is often required to remove these assets and return the property to its original condition at some defined date in the future.
	Asset retirement obligations are included in Other deferred liabilities and credits and Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	In 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom performed a review of the assumptions and estimated costs related to asset retirement obligations. The results of the reviews (identified as “Revisions in estimated cash outflows”) and other changes in asset retirement obligations during 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
				U.S.		TDS				TDS
	(Dollars in thousands)			Cellular		Telecom		Other		Consolidated
	Balance December 31, 2013			$	195,568	$	75,395	$	4,275	$	275,238
		Additional liabilities accrued			2,507		2,400		-		4,907
		Revisions in estimated cash outflows			-2,792		1,777		23		-992
		Disposition of assets			-44,403		-882		-957		-46,242
		Accretion expense			12,534		4,723		249		17,506
		Transferred to Liabilities held for sale			-10,902		-177		-306		-11,385
	Balance December 31, 2014 (1)			$	152,512	$	83,236	$	3,284	$	239,032
	Balance December 31, 2012			$	179,607	$	69,969	$	4,034	$	253,610
		Additional liabilities accrued			635		3,667		-		4,302
		Revisions in estimated cash outflows			6,268		-2,562		-		3,706
		Disposition of assets			-3,534		-577		-		-4,111
		Accretion expense			12,592		4,898		241		17,731
	Balance December 31, 2013 (1)			$	195,568	$	75,395	$	4,275	$	275,238
	-1		The total amount of asset retirement obligations related to the Divestiture Transaction and Airadigm Transaction included in Other current liabilities was $9.1 million and $37.7 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Debt	NOTE 11 DEBT
	Revolving Credit Facilities
	At December 31, 2014, TDS and U.S. Cellular had revolving credit facilities available for general corporate purposes. Amounts under the revolving credit facilities may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time to time until maturity. U.S. Cellular borrowed and repaid amounts under its revolving credit facility in 2014. Neither TDS nor U.S. Cellular borrowed under their revolving credit facilities in 2013 or 2012 except for standby letters of credit.
	In certain circumstances, TDS' and U.S. Cellular's interest cost on their revolving credit facilities may be subject to increase if their current credit ratings from nationally recognized credit rating agencies are lowered, and may be subject to decrease if the ratings are raised.
	In 2014, certain nationally recognized credit rating agencies downgraded TDS and U.S. Cellular corporate and senior debt credit ratings. After these downgrades, TDS and U.S. Cellular are rated at sub-investment grade. As a result of these downgrades, the commitment fee on the revolving credit facilities increased to 0.30% per annum. The downgrades also increased the interest rate on any borrowings by 0.25% per annum. The revolving credit facilities do not cease to be available nor do the maturity dates accelerate solely as a result of a downgrade in TDS' or U.S. Cellular's credit rating. However, downgrades in TDS' or U.S. Cellular's credit rating could adversely affect their ability to renew the revolving credit facilities or obtain access to other credit facilities in the future.
	The maturity date of any borrowings under the TDS and U.S. Cellular revolving credit facilities would accelerate in the event of a change in control.
	The following table summarizes the terms of such revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2014:
	(Dollars in millions)			TDS			U.S. Cellular
	Maximum borrowing capacity			$	400		$	300
	Letters of credit outstanding			$	0.6		$	17.5
	Amount borrowed			$	-		$	-
	Amount available for use			$	399.4		$	282.5
	Borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus contractual spread (1)				1.92	%		1.92	%
		Sample LIBOR Rate			0.17	%		0.17	%
		Contractual spread			1.75	%		1.75	%
	Range of commitment fees on amount available for use (2)
		Low			0.13	%		0.13	%
		High			0.3	%		0.3	%
	Agreement date				Dec-10			Dec-10
	Maturity date				Dec-17			Dec-17
	Fees incurred attributable to the Revolving Credit Facility are as follows:
		Fees incurred as a percent of Maximum borrowing capacity for 2014			0.42	%		0.42	%
		Fees incurred, amount
			2014	$	1.7		$	1.3
			2013	$	0.9		$	0.8
			2012	$	1.3		$	1.1
	-1		Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a contractual spread based on TDS' or U.S. Cellular’s credit rating or, at TDS' or U.S. Cellular’s option, an alternate “Base Rate” as defined in the revolving credit agreement. TDS and U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by TDS or U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders). If TDS or U.S. Cellular provides notice of intent to borrow the same business day, interest on borrowing is at the Base Rate plus the contractual spread.
	-2		The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to TDS and U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.
	The continued availability of the revolving credit facilities requires TDS and U.S. Cellular to comply with certain negative and affirmative covenants, maintain certain financial ratios and make representations regarding certain matters at the time of each borrowing. TDS and U.S. Cellular believe they were in compliance as of December 31, 2014 with all covenants and other requirements set forth in the revolving credit facilities.
	In connection with U.S. Cellular's revolving credit facility, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into a subordination agreement dated December 17, 2010 together with the administrative agent for the lenders under U.S. Cellular's revolving credit agreement. Pursuant to this subordination agreement, (a) any consolidated funded indebtedness from U.S. Cellular to TDS will be unsecured and (b) any (i) consolidated funded indebtedness from U.S. Cellular to TDS (other than “refinancing indebtedness” as defined in the subordination agreement) in excess of $105,000,000, and (ii) refinancing indebtedness in excess of $250,000,000, will be subordinated and made junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of obligations to the lenders under U.S. Cellular's revolving credit agreement. As of December 31, 2014, U.S. Cellular had no outstanding consolidated funded indebtedness or refinancing indebtedness that was subordinated to the revolving credit agreement pursuant to the subordination agreement.
	In July 2014, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into amendments to the revolving credit facilities agreements which increased the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (the ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) that the companies are required to maintain. Beginning July 1, 2014, TDS and U.S. Cellular are required to maintain the Consolidated Leverage Ratio at a level not to exceed 3.75 to 1.00 for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended (this was 3.00 to 1.00 prior to July 1, 2014). The terms of the amendment decrease the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio beginning January 1, 2016, with further decreases effective July 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017 (and will return to 3.00 to 1.00 at that time). For the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, the actual Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 2.50 to 1.00. Future changes in TDS' and U.S. Cellular's financial condition could negatively impact their ability to meet the financial covenants and requirements in their revolving credit facilities agreements. TDS also has certain other non-material credit facilities from time to time.
	At December 31, 2014, TDS had recorded $5.4 million of issuance costs related to the revolving credit facilities which is included in Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Long Term Financing
	Long-term debt as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
											December 31,
	(Dollars in thousands)					Issuance date	Maturity date		Call date	2014		2013
	TDS:
			Unsecured Senior Notes
				6.63%		Mar-05	Mar-45		Mar-10	$	116,250	$	116,250
				6.88%		Nov-10	Nov-59		Nov-15		225,000		225,000
				7.00%		Mar-11	Mar-60		Mar-16		300,000		300,000
				5.88%		Nov-12	Dec-61		Dec-17		195,000		195,000
			Purchase contract at 6.0%			Oct-01	Oct-21				1,097		1,097
					Total Parent						837,347		837,347
	Subsidiaries:
		U.S. Cellular -
			Unsecured Senior Notes
				6.70%		December 2003 and June 2004	Dec-33		Dec-03		544,000		544,000
				Less: 6.7% Unamortized discount							-11,278		-11,551
											532,722		532,449
				6.95%		May-11	May-60		May-16		342,000		342,000
				7.25%		Dec-14	Dec-63		Dec-19		275,000		-
			Obligation on capital leases								2,143		3,749
		TDS Telecom -
			Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”) and other notes								699		749
			Obligation on capital leases								768		779
		Other -
			Long-term notes, 3.7% to 4.8%				Through 2016				3,686		4,612
			Obligation on capital leases								29		35
					Total Subsidiaries						1,157,047		884,373
	Total long-term debt									$	1,994,394	$	1,721,720
			Long-term debt, current							$	808	$	1,646
			Long-term debt, noncurrent							$	1,993,586	$	1,720,074
	TDS may redeem its callable notes and U.S. Cellular may redeem its 6.95% Senior Notes and 7.25% Senior Notes, in whole or in part at any time after the respective call date, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest. U.S. Cellular may redeem the 6.7% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, or (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points.
Interest on the notes is payable quarterly on Senior Notes outstanding at December 31, 2014, with the exception of U.S. Cellular's 6.7% note in which interest is payable semi-annually.
Capitalized debt issuance costs for Unsecured Senior Notes totaled $53.9 million and are included in Other assets and deferred charges (a long-term asset account). These costs are amortized over the life of the notes using the effective interest method.
The annual requirements for principal payments on long-term debt are approximately $0.8 million, $3.8 million, $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years 2015 through 2019, respectively.
The covenants associated with TDS and its subsidiaries' long-term debt obligations, among other things, restrict TDS' ability, subject to certain exclusions, to incur additional liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, and sell, consolidate or merge assets.
TDS' long-term debt indentures do not contain any provisions resulting in acceleration of the maturities of outstanding debt in the event of a change in TDS' credit rating. However, a downgrade in TDS' credit rating could adversely affect its ability to obtain long-term debt financing in the future.
Term Loan Facility
On January 21, 2015, U.S. Cellular entered into a term loan credit facility relating to $225.0 million in debt. The term loan must be drawn in one or more advances by the six month anniversary of the date of the agreement; amounts not drawn by that time will cease to be available. Amounts repaid or prepaid under the term loan facility may not be reborrowed. The term loan is available for general corporate purposes, including working capital, spectrum purchases and capital expenditures. The term loan is unsecured except for a lien on all investments in equity which U.S. Cellular may have in the loan administrative agent, CoBank ACB, subject to certain limitations.
In certain circumstances, U.S. Cellular's interest cost on its term loan may be subject to increase if its current credit ratings from nationally recognized credit rating agencies are lowered, and may be subject to decrease if the ratings are raised. The term loan facility does not cease to be available nor does the maturity date accelerate solely as a result of a downgrade in U.S. Cellular's credit rating. However, downgrades in U.S. Cellular's credit rating could adversely affect its ability to renew or obtain access to credit facilities in the future.
The maturity date of term loan would accelerate in the event of a change in control.
The following table summarizes the terms of the term loan facility as of February 25, 2015:
(Dollars in millions)
Maximum borrowing capacity			$	225
Amount borrowed			$	-
Amount available for use			$	225
Hypothetical Borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread (1)				2.67	%
	Sample LIBOR Rate			0.17	%
	Contractual spread			2.5	%
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use (2)
	Low			0.13	%
	High			0.3	%
Agreement date				21-Jan-15
Maturity date (3)				21-Jan-22
-1	Borrowings under the term loan credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a contractual spread based on U.S. Cellular’s credit rating or, at U.S. Cellular’s option, an alternate “Base Rate” as defined in the term loan facility.
-2	The term loan credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.
-3	Principal amounts outstanding on the term loan facility will be due and payable quarterly in equal installments beginning on the last day of the fifth fiscal quarter ending after the agreement date, in an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate term loan facility commitment. Any amounts owing under the term loan facility not previously repaid will be due and payable on the maturity date.
The continued availability of the term loan facility requires U.S. Cellular to comply with certain negative and affirmative covenants, maintain certain financial ratios and make representations regarding certain matters at the time of each borrowing, that are substantially the same as those in the U.S. Cellular revolving credit facility described above.
In connection with U.S. Cellular's term credit facility, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into a subordination agreement dated January 21, 2015 together with the administrative agent for the lenders under U.S. Cellular's term loan credit agreement, which is substantially the same as the subordination agreement in the U.S. Cellular revolving credit facility described above. As of February 25, 2015, U.S. Cellular had no outstanding consolidated funded indebtedness or refinancing indebtedness that was subordinated to the term loan facility pursuant to this subordination agreement.

Employee_Benefits_Plans

Employee Benefits Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Employee Benefit Plans	NOTE 12 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	Defined Contribution Plans
	TDS sponsors a qualified noncontributory defined contribution pension plan. The plan provides benefits for the employees of TDS Corporate, TDS Telecom and U.S. Cellular. Under this plan, pension costs are calculated separately for each participant and are funded annually. Total pension costs were $16.4 million, $16.2 million and $18.4 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, TDS sponsors a defined contribution retirement savings plan (“401(k)”) plan. Total costs incurred from TDS' contributions to the 401(k) plan were $25.3 million, $24.8 million and $25.0 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	TDS also sponsors an unfunded nonqualified deferred supplemental executive retirement plan for certain employees to offset the reduction of benefits caused by the limitation on annual employee compensation under the tax laws.
	Other Post-Retirement Benefits
	TDS sponsors a defined benefit post-retirement plan that provides medical benefits and that covers most of the employees of TDS Corporate, TDS Telecom and the Wireline subsidiaries of TDS Telecom. The plan is contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually.
	The following amounts are included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheet before affecting such amounts for income taxes:
	December 31,	2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Net prior service costs	$	17,246		$	18,833
	Net actuarial loss		-8,436			-20,713
		$	8,810		$	-1,880
	The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost gain for the postretirement benefit plans that will be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during 2015 are $0.3 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
	The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets for the other post-retirement benefit plans.
	December 31,		2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Change in benefit obligation
		Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	46,142		$	54,568
		Service cost		1,018			1,348
		Interest cost		2,255			2,137
		Plan amendments		-2,057			-
		Actuarial (gain) loss		-10,897			-9,437
		Prescription drug subsidy		264			-
		Employee contribution		2,216			2,230
		Benefits paid		-4,296			-4,704
		Benefit obligation at end of year		34,645			46,142
	Change in plan assets
		Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		49,743			45,047
		Actual return (loss) on plan assets		3,495			6,973
		Employee contribution		2,216			2,230
		Employer contribution		166			197
		Benefits paid		-4,296			-4,704
		Fair value of plan assets at end of year		51,324			49,743
	Funded status		$	16,679		$	3,601
	The funded status identified above is recorded as a component of Other assets and deferred charges in TDS' Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
	The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the plans' assets at fair value, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair measurement. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is not representative of its expected performance or its overall risk profile, and therefore Level 3 assets are not necessarily higher risk than Level 2 assets or Level 1 assets. There were no Level 3 assets for any years presented.
	Mutual funds are valued based on the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded. The investment strategy for each type of mutual fund is identified below the table and referenced by number.
	31-Dec-14
	(Dollars in thousands)		Level 1			Level 2		Total
	Mutual funds
		Bond (1)	$	12,842		$	-	$	12,842
		International equity (2)		12,003			-		12,003
		Money market (3)		2,053			-		2,053
		US large cap (4)		20,191			-		20,191
		US small cap (5)		4,234			-		4,234
	Other			-			1		1
	Total plan assets at fair value		$	51,323		$	1	$	51,324
	31-Dec-13
	(Dollars in thousands)			Level 1			Level 2		Total
	Mutual funds
		Bond (1)	$	12,697		$	-	$	12,697
		International equity (2)		9,876			-		9,876
		Money market (3)		1,798			-		1,798
		US large cap (4)		20,861			-		20,861
		US small cap (5)		4,500			-		4,500
	Other			-			11		11
	Total plan assets at fair value		$	49,732		$	11	$	49,743
	Bond - The funds seek to achieve a maximum total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management by investing in a wide spectrum of fixed income instruments including bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by government and private-sector entities.
	International equity - The funds seek to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in the stocks of companies located outside the United States that are considered to have the potential for above-average capital appreciation.
	Money market - The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity by investing in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, dollar-denominated short-term debt securities.
	US large cap - The funds seek to track the performance of several benchmark indices that measure the investment return of large-capitalization stocks. The funds attempt to replicate the indices by investing substantially all of their assets in the stocks that make up the various indices in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the indices.
	US small cap - The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of small-capitalization stocks. The fund attempts to replicate the index by investing substantially all of its assets in the stocks that make up the index in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the index.
	The following table summarizes how plan assets are invested.
						Allocation of Plan Assets
					at December 31,
Investment		Target Asset
Category		Allocation			2014		2013
U.S. equities		46	%		47.6	%	51	%
International equities		24	%		23.4	%	19.9	%
Debt securities		30	%		29	%	29.1	%
The post-retirement benefit fund engages multiple asset managers to ensure proper diversification of the investment portfolio within each asset category. The investment objective is to meet or exceed the rate of return of a performance index comprised of 46% Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index, 24% FTSE All World (excluding U.S.) Stock Index, and 30% Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index. The three-year and five-year average rates of return for TDS' post-retirement benefit fund are 13.26% and 10.30%, respectively.
The post-retirement benefit fund does not hold any debt or equity securities issued by TDS, U.S. Cellular or any related parties.
TDS is not required to set aside current funds for its future retiree health and life insurance benefits. The decision to contribute to the plan assets is based upon several factors, including the funded status of the plan, market conditions, alternative investment opportunities, tax benefits and other circumstances. In accordance with applicable income tax regulations, total accumulated contributions to fund the costs of future retiree medical benefits are restricted to an amount not to exceed 25% of the total accumulated contributions to the trust. An additional contribution equal to a reasonable amortization of the past service cost may be made without regard to the 25% limitation. TDS has not determined whether it will make a contribution to the plan in 2015.
Net periodic benefit cost recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations includes the following components:
Year Ended December 31,		2014			2013		2012
(Dollars in thousands)
Service cost		$	1,018		$	1,348	$	1,197
Interest cost			2,255			2,137		2,297
Expected return on plan assets			-3,402			-3,065		-2,995
Amortization of prior service costs (1)			-3,644			-3,605		-3,735
Amortization of actuarial losses (2)			1,287			2,452		2,517
Net post-retirement cost (benefit)		$	-2,486		$	-733	$	-719
-1	Based on straight-line amortization over the average time remaining before active employees become fully eligible for plan benefits.
-2	Based on straight-line amortization over the average time remaining before active employees retire.
The following assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:
December 31,	2014			2013
Benefit obligations
Discount rate	4.2	%		5	%
Net periodic benefit cost
Discount rate	5	%		4	%
Expected return on plan assets	7	%		7	%
The discount rate for 2014 and 2013 was determined using a hypothetical Aa spot yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual spot discount rates from six months to 99 years. The spot rate curve was derived from a direct calculation of the implied forward rate curve based on the included bond cash flows. This yield curve, when populated with projected cash flows that represent the expected timing and amount of TDS plan benefit payments, produces a single effective interest discount rate that is used to measure the plan's liabilities.
The expected rate of return was determined using the target asset allocation for the TDS plan and rate of return expectations for each asset class.
The measurement date for actuarial determination was December 31, 2014. For measurement purposes, the annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2014 to be 7.8% for plan participants aged 65 and above, and 7.5% for participants under age 65. For all participants the 2014 annual rate of increase is expected to decrease to 5.0% by 2022. The 2013 expected rate of increase was 7.5% for plan participants aged 65 and above, and 7.9% for participants under age 65, decreasing to 5.0% for all participants by 2021.
A 1% increase or decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014:
	One Percent
	Increase			Decrease
(Dollars in thousands)
Effect on total service and interest cost components	$	25		$	-23
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	$	423		$	-393
The following estimated future benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid:
Year
(Dollars in thousands)
2015	$	1,687
2016		1,719
2017		1,662
2018		1,652
2019		1,667
2020-2024		9,442

Commitments_And_Contingencies

Commitments And Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Commitments and Contingencies	NOTE 13 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Agreements
	On November 25, 2014, U.S. Cellular executed a Master Statement of Work and certain other documents with Amdocs Software Systems Limited (“Amdocs”), effective October 1, 2014, that inter-relate with but rearrange the structure under previous Amdocs Agreements. The agreement provides that U.S. Cellular will now outsource to Amdocs certain support functions for its Billing and Operational Support System (“B/OSS”). Such functions include application support, billing operations and some infrastructure services. The agreement has a term through September 30, 2019, subject to five one-year renewal periods at U.S. Cellular's option. The total estimated amount to be paid to Amdocs with respect to the agreement during the initial five-year term is approximately $110 million (exclusive of travel and expenses and subject to certain potential adjustments).
	During 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into agreements with Apple to purchase certain minimum quantities of Apple iPhone products and fund marketing programs related to the Apple iPhone and iPad products over a three-year period beginning in November 2013. Based on current forecasts, TDS estimates that the remaining contractual commitment as of December 31, 2014 under these agreements is approximately $818 million. At this time, TDS expects to meet its contractual commitments with Apple.
	Lease Commitments
	TDS and its subsidiaries have leases for certain plant facilities, office space, retail store sites, cell sites, data centers and data-processing 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.
	As of December 31, 2014, future minimum rental payments required under operating leases and rental receipts expected under operating leases that have noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year were as follows:
		Operating Leases Future Minimum Rental Payments*		Operating Leases Future Minimum Rental Receipts
	(Dollars in thousands)
	2015	$	155,476	$	54,463
	2016		139,346		43,918
	2017		119,384		34,619
	2018		102,014		24,095
	2019		86,580		12,038
	Thereafter		798,530		8,558
	Total	$	1,401,330	$	177,691
	*Includes $88.4 million of future lease payments associated with leases transferred in January 2015 per the second closing of the tower sale. See Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.
	For 2014, 2013 and 2012, rent expense for noncancellable long-term leases was $177.0 million, $187.4 million and $204.1 million, respectively; and rent expense under cancellable short-term leases was $8.8 million, $12.5 million and $10.4 million, respectively.
	Indemnifications
	TDS enters into agreements in the normal course of business that provide for indemnification of counterparties. The terms of the indemnifications vary by agreement. The events or circumstances that would require TDS to perform under these indemnities are transaction specific; however, these agreements may require TDS to indemnify the counterparty for costs and losses incurred from litigation or claims arising from the underlying transaction. TDS is unable to estimate the maximum potential liability for these types of indemnifications as the amounts are dependent on the outcome of future events, the nature and likelihood of which cannot be determined at this time. Historically, TDS has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements.
	Legal Proceedings
	TDS is involved or may be involved from time to time in legal proceedings before the FCC, other regulatory authorities, and/or various state and federal courts. If TDS believes that a loss arising from such legal proceedings is probable and can be reasonably estimated, an amount is accrued in the financial statements for the estimated loss. If only a range of loss can be determined, the best estimate within that range is accrued; if none of the estimates within that range is better than another, the low end of the range is accrued. The assessment of the expected outcomes of legal proceedings is a highly subjective process that requires judgments about future events. The legal proceedings are reviewed at least quarterly to determine the adequacy of accruals and related financial statement disclosures. The ultimate outcomes of legal proceedings could differ materially from amounts accrued in the financial statements.
	TDS has accrued $0.4 million and $0.3 million with respect to legal proceedings and unasserted claims as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. TDS has not accrued any amount for legal proceedings if it cannot estimate the amount of the possible loss or range of loss. TDS does not believe that the amount of any contingent loss in excess of the amounts accrued would be material.

Variable_Interest_Entities

Variable Interest Entities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Variable Interest Entities	NOTE 14 VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (VIEs)
	TDS consolidates variable interest entities in which it has a controlling financial interest and is the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE.  TDS reviews these criteria initially at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when reconsideration events occur.
	Consolidated VIEs
	As of December 31, 2014, TDS holds a variable interest in and consolidates the following VIEs under GAAP:
	Advantage Spectrum L.P. (“Advantage Spectrum”) and Frequency Advantage L.P., the general partner of Advantage Spectrum;
	Aquinas Wireless L.P. (“Aquinas Wireless”); and
	King Street Wireless L.P. (“King Street Wireless”) and King Street Wireless, Inc., the general partner of King Street Wireless.
	The power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Advantage Spectrum, Aquinas Wireless and King Street Wireless (collectively, the “limited partnerships”) is shared. Specifically, the general partner of these VIEs has the exclusive right to manage, operate and control the limited partnerships and make all decisions to carry on the business of the partnerships; however, the general partner of each partnership needs consent of the limited partner, a TDS subsidiary, to sell or lease certain licenses, to make certain large expenditures, admit other partners or liquidate the limited partnerships. Although the power to direct the activities of the VIEs is shared, TDS has a disproportionate level of exposure to the variability associated with the economic performance of the VIEs, indicating that TDS is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, these VIEs are consolidated.
	The following table presents the classification of the consolidated VIEs' assets and liabilities in TDS' Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	December 31,			2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
		Cash and cash equivalents		$	2,588	$	2,076
		Other current assets			278		1,184
		Licenses			312,977		310,475
		Property, plant and equipment, net			10,671		18,600
		Other assets and deferred charges			60,059		511
			Total assets	$	386,573	$	332,846
	Liabilities
		Current liabilities		$	110	$	46
		Deferred liabilities and credits			622		3,139
			Total liabilities	$	732	$	3,185
	Other Related Matters
	An FCC auction of AWS-3 spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 97, began in November 2014 and ended in January 2015. TDS participated in Auction 97 indirectly through its interest in Advantage Spectrum. A subsidiary of U.S. Cellular is a limited partner in Advantage Spectrum. Advantage Spectrum qualified as a “designated entity,” and thereby was eligible for bid credits with respect to spectrum purchased in Auction 97. To participate in this auction, a $60.0 million deposit was made to the FCC in 2014. Such amount is reflected in Other Assets and Deferred Charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Advantage Spectrum was the provisional winning bidder for 124 licenses for an aggregate bid of $338.3 million, net of its anticipated designated entity discount of 25%. Advantage Spectrum's bid amount, less the initial deposit of $60.0 million, plus certain other charges totaling $2.3 million, are required to be paid to the FCC by March 2, 2015.
	Advantage Spectrum, Aquinas Wireless and King Street Wireless were formed to participate in FCC auctions of wireless spectrum and to fund, establish, and provide wireless service with respect to any FCC licenses won in the auctions. As such, these entities have risks similar to those described in the “Risk Factors” in TDS' Annual Report on Form 10-K.
	TDS' capital contributions and advances made to its VIEs totaled $60.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2014. In 2013, there were no capital contributions or advances made to VIEs or their general partners that were not VIEs.
	TDS may agree to make additional capital contributions and/or advances to Advantage Spectrum, Aquinas Wireless or King Street Wireless and/or to their general partners to provide additional funding for the development of licenses granted in various auctions.  TDS may finance such amounts with a combination of cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit agreement and/or long-term debt.  There is no assurance that TDS will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all to provide such financial support.
	The limited partnership agreements of Advantage Spectrum, Aquinas Wireless and King Street Wireless also provide the general partner with a put option whereby the general partner may require the limited partner, a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular, to purchase its interest in the limited partnership. The general partner's put options related to its interests in King Street Wireless and Aquinas Wireless will become exercisable in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The general partner's put options related to its interest in Advantage Spectrum will become exercisable on the fifth and sixth anniversaries of the issuance of any license. The put option price is determined pursuant to a formula that takes into consideration fixed interest rates and the market value of U.S. Cellular's Common Shares. Upon exercise of the put option, the general partner is required to repay borrowings due to U.S. Cellular. If the general partner does not elect to exercise its put option, the general partner may trigger an appraisal process in which the limited partner (a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular) may have the right, but not the obligation, to purchase the general partner's interest in the limited partnership at a price and on other terms and conditions specified in the limited partnership agreement. In accordance with requirements under GAAP, TDS is required to calculate a theoretical redemption value for all of the put options assuming they are exercisable at the end of each reporting period, even though such exercise is not contractually permitted. Pursuant to GAAP, this theoretical redemption value, net of amounts payable to U.S. Cellular for loans and accrued interest thereon made by U.S. Cellular to the general partners the (“net put value”), was $1.2 million and $0.5 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The net put value is recorded as Noncontrolling interests with redemption features in TDS' Consolidated Balance Sheet. Also in accordance with GAAP, changes in the redemption value of the put options, net of interest accrued on the loans, are recorded as a component of Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax, in TDS' Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Noncontrolling_Interests

Noncontrolling Interests	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Noncontrolling Interests	NOTE 15 NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
	The following schedule discloses the effects of Net income attributable to TDS shareholders and changes in TDS' ownership interest in U.S. Cellular on TDS' equity for 2014, 2013 and 2012:
	Year Ended December 31,			2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders			$	-136,355	$	141,927	$	81,861
		Transfer (to) from the noncontrolling interests
			Change in TDS’ Capital in excess of par value from U.S. Cellular's issuance of U.S. Cellular shares		-12,420		-14,135		-8,854
			Change in TDS’ Capital in excess of par value from U.S. Cellular’s repurchase of U.S. Cellular shares		1,296		3,370		4,789
			Change in TDS’ Capital in excess of par value from common control transaction		7,484		-		-
			Purchase of ownership in subsidiaries from noncontrolling interests		-1,034		-123		4,397
			Net transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests		-4,674		-10,888		332
		Change from net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests		$	-141,029	$	131,039	$	82,193
	Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Finite-Lived Subsidiaries
	TDS' consolidated financial statements include certain noncontrolling interests that meet the GAAP definition of mandatorily redeemable financial instruments. These mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests represent interests held by third parties in consolidated partnerships, where the terms of the underlying partnership agreement provide for a defined termination date at which time the assets of the subsidiary are to be sold, the liabilities are to be extinguished and the remaining net proceeds are to be distributed to the noncontrolling interest holders and TDS in accordance with the respective partnership agreements. The termination dates of these mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests range from 2085 to 2113.
	The estimated aggregate amount that would be due and payable to settle all of these noncontrolling interests, assuming an orderly liquidation of the finite-lived consolidated partnerships on December 31, 2014, net of estimated liquidation costs, is $3.6 million.  This amount excludes redemption amounts recorded in Noncontrolling interests with redemption features in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The estimate of settlement value was based on certain factors and assumptions which are subjective in nature. Changes in those factors and assumptions could result in a materially larger or smaller settlement amount. TDS currently has no plans or intentions relating to the liquidation of any of the related partnerships prior to their scheduled termination dates. The corresponding carrying value of the mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests in finite-lived consolidated partnerships at December 31, 2014 was $3.0 million, and is included in Noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The excess of the aggregate settlement value over the aggregate carrying value of these mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests is due primarily to the unrecognized appreciation of the noncontrolling interest holders' share of the underlying net assets in the consolidated partnerships. Neither the noncontrolling interest holders' share, nor TDS' share, of the appreciation of the underlying net assets of these subsidiaries is reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

Common_Shareholders_Equity

Common Shareholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Common Shareholders' Equity	NOTE 16 COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Common Stock
	As of December 31, 2014, Series A Common Shares were convertible, on a share for share basis, into Common Shares and 7,178,943 Common Shares were reserved for possible issuance upon conversion of Series A Common Shares.
	The following table summarizes the number of Common and Series A Common Shares issued and repurchased.
			Common Shares	Common Treasury Shares		Series A Common Shares
	(Shares in thousands)
	Balance December 31, 2011		125,502	24,165		7,119
		Repurchase of shares	-	868		-
		Conversion of Series A Common Shares	10	-		-10
		Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	-	-392		51
	Balance December 31, 2012		125,512	24,641		7,160
		Repurchase of shares	-	339		-
		Conversion of Series A Common Shares	33	-		-33
		Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	-	-1,026		39
	Balance December 31, 2013		125,545	23,954		7,166
		Repurchase of shares	-	1,542		-
		Conversion of Series A Common Shares	25	-		-25
		Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	-	-646		38
	Balance December 31, 2014		125,570	24,850		7,179
	Tax-Deferred Savings Plan
	TDS has reserved 90,341 Common Shares at December 31, 2014, for issuance under the TDS Tax-Deferred Savings Plan, a qualified profit-sharing plan pursuant to Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participating employees have the option of investing their contributions and TDS' contributions in a TDS Common Share fund, a U.S. Cellular Common Share fund or certain unaffiliated funds.
	Common Share Repurchases
	TDS and U.S. Cellular Share Repurchases
	On August 2, 2013, the Board of Directors of TDS authorized a $250 million stock repurchase program for the purchase of TDS Common Shares from time to time pursuant to open market purchases, block transactions, private purchases or otherwise, depending on market conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date. TDS had a prior share repurchase authorization for $250 million that expired on November 19, 2012.
	On November 17, 2009, the Board of Directors of U.S. Cellular authorized the repurchase of up to 1,300,000 Common Shares on an annual basis beginning in 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, on a cumulative basis. These purchases will be made pursuant to open market purchases, block purchases, private purchases, or otherwise, depending on market prices and other conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date.
	Share repurchases made under these authorizations and prior authorizations, were as follows:
	Year Ended December 31,		Number of	Average Cost
	(Shares and dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)		Shares	Per Share			Amount
	2014
		U.S. Cellular Common Shares	496	$	38.19		$	18,943
		TDS Common Shares	1,542		25.36			39,096
	2013
		U.S. Cellular Common Shares	499	$	37.19		$	18,544
		TDS Common Shares	339		28.6			9,692
	2012
		U.S. Cellular Common Shares	571	$	35.11		$	20,045
		TDS Common Shares	868		23.08			20,026

Stock_Based_Compensation

Stock Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Stock Based Compensation	NOTE 17 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	TDS Consolidated
	The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense recognized during 2014, 2013 and 2012:
	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Stock option awards	$	15,802	$	12,973		$	20,884
	Restricted stock unit awards		17,968		15,535			19,025
	Deferred compensation bonus and matching stock unit awards		690		550			749
	Awards under Non-Employee Director compensation plan		1,333		1,280			1,213
	Total stock-based compensation, before income taxes		35,793		30,338			41,871
	Income tax benefit		-13,519		-11,459			-15,848
	Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes	$	22,274	$	18,879		$	26,023
	At December 31, 2014, unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards was $39.0 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.
	The following table provides a summary of the stock-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended:
	December 31,		2014		2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	32,505	$	27,130		$	38,563
	Cost of services and products		3,288		3,208			3,308
	Total stock-based compensation	$	35,793	$	30,338		$	41,871
	TDS' tax benefits realized from the exercise of stock options and other awards totaled $8.6 million in 2014.
	TDS (excluding U.S. Cellular)
	The information in this section relates to stock-based compensation plans using the equity instruments of TDS. Participants in these plans are employees of TDS Corporate and TDS Telecom and Non-employee Directors of TDS. Information related to plans using the equity instruments of U.S. Cellular are shown in the U.S. Cellular section following the TDS section.
	Under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plans, TDS may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. .
	TDS had reserved 17,971,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2014 for equity awards granted and to be granted under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plans in effect. At December 31, 2014, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards.
	TDS has also established a Non-Employee Directors' compensation plan under which it has reserved 167,000 TDS Common Shares at December 31, 2014 for issuance as compensation to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of TDS.
	TDS uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans.
	Long-Term Incentive Plan—Stock Options—Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over periods up to three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 expire between 2015 and 2024. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee's termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of TDS common stock on the date of grant.
	TDS estimated the fair value of stock options granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 using the Black Scholes valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below:
		2014		2013			2012
	Expected life	5.8 Years		5.7 Years			5.5 Years
	Expected annual volatility rate	39.6	%	41	%		41.1	%
	Dividend yield	2	%	2.3	%		2.4	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.8	%	1	%		0.9	%
	Estimated annual forfeiture rate	2.9	%	2.9	%		2.9	%
	Prior to 2013, the fair value of options was recognized as compensation cost using an accelerated attribution method over the requisite service periods of the awards, which was generally the vesting period. Beginning with grants in 2013, stock option awards cliff vest in three years. Therefore, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
	A summary of TDS stock options (total and portion exercisable) and changes during the three years ended December 31, 2014, is presented in the tables and narrative below.
											Weighted
											Average
				Weighted			Weighted				Remaining
				Average			Average		Aggregate		Contractual
			Number of	Exercise			Grant Date		Intrinsic		Life
	Common Share Options		Options	Prices			Fair Value		Value		(in years)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2011		7,216,000	$	33.89
	(4,865,000 exercisable)				36.67
	Granted		1,702,000		20.79		$	6.28
	Exercised		-1,000		20.65				$	4,000
	Forfeited		-106,000		23.81
	Expired		-298,000		30.12
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012		8,513,000	$	31.53
	(5,782,000 exercisable)				35.12
	Granted		1,259,000		22.6		$	7.01
	Exercised		-683,000		25.33				$	2,450,000
	Forfeited		-81,000		23.75
	Expired		-228,000		34.1
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		8,780,000	$	30.74
	(6,160,000 exercisable)				34.13
	Granted		930,000		26.83		$	8.66
	Exercised		-40,000		21.28				$	174,000
	Forfeited		-73,000		23.05
	Expired		-457,000		34.55
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		9,140,000	$	30.25				$	9,651,000	5.6
	(6,487,000 exercisable)			$	32.93				$	4,143,000	4.5
	The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between TDS' closing stock prices and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that was received by the option holders upon exercise or that would have been received by option holders had all options been exercised on December 31, 2014.
	Long-Term Incentive Plans—Restricted Stock Units—TDS also grants restricted stock unit awards to key employees. Each outstanding restricted stock unit is convertible into one Common Share Award. The restricted stock unit awards currently outstanding were granted in 2013 and 2014 and will vest in May 2016 and 2017, respectively.
TDS estimates the fair value of restricted stock units by reducing the grant-date price of TDS' shares by the present value of the dividends expected to be paid on the underlying shares during the requisite service period, discounted at the appropriate risk-free interest rate, since employees are not entitled to dividends declared on the underlying shares while the restricted stock or RSU is unvested. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
A summary of TDS nonvested restricted stock units and changes during the year ended December 31, 2014 is presented in the table below:
Common Restricted Stock Units		Number	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2013		663,000	$	20.43
Granted		355,000	$	25.26
Vested		-300,000	$	19.68
Forfeited		-26,000	$	21.31
Nonvested at December 31, 2014		692,000	$	23.2
The total fair values as of the respective vesting dates of restricted stock units vested during 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $7.5 million, $5.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $25.26, $21.09 and $19.62, respectively.
Long-Term Incentive Plans—Deferred Compensation Stock Units—Certain TDS employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units. The amount of TDS' matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% stock unit match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units.
The total fair values of deferred compensation stock units that vested during 2014, 2013 and 2012 were $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value of deferred compensation stock units granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $23.27, $21.99 and $24.18, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there were 249,000 vested but unissued deferred compensation stock units valued at $6.3 million.
Compensation of Non-Employee Directors—TDS issued 33,000, 33,000 and 22,000 Common Shares under its Non-Employee Director plan in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Dividend Reinvestment Plans (“DRIP”)—TDS had reserved 1,028,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2014, for issuance under Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans and 141,000 Series A Common Shares for issuance under the Series A Common Share Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan. These plans enabled holders of TDS' Common Shares and Preferred Shares to reinvest cash dividends in Common Shares and holders of Series A Common Shares to reinvest cash dividends in Series A Common Shares. The purchase price of the shares is 95% of the market value, based on the average of the daily high and low sales prices for TDS' Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten trading days preceding the date on which the purchase is made. These plans are considered non-compensatory plans, therefore no compensation expense is recognized for stock issued under these plans.
U.S. Cellular
The information in this section relates to stock-based compensation plans using the equity instruments of U.S. Cellular. Participants in these plans are employees of U.S. Cellular and Non-employee Directors of U.S. Cellular. Information related to plans using the equity instruments of TDS are shown in the previous section.
U.S. Cellular has established the following stock-based compensation plans: long-term incentive plans and a Non-Employee Director compensation plan.
Under the U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans, U.S. Cellular may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. At December 31, 2014, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards.
On June 25, 2013, U.S. Cellular paid a special cash dividend to all holders of U.S. Cellular Common Shares and Series A Common Shares as of June 11, 2013. Outstanding U.S. Cellular stock options, restricted stock unit awards and deferred compensation stock units were equitably adjusted for the special cash dividend. The impact of such adjustments are fully reflected for all years presented. See Note 5 – Earnings Per Share for additional information.
At December 31, 2014, U.S. Cellular had reserved 9,782,000 Common Shares for equity awards granted and to be granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plans.
U.S. Cellular also has established a Non-Employee Director compensation plan under which it has reserved 197,000 Common Shares at December 31, 2014 for issuance as compensation to members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of U.S. Cellular or TDS.
U.S. Cellular uses treasury stock to satisfy requirements for Common Shares issued pursuant to its various stock-based compensation plans.
Long-Term Incentive Plans—Stock Options—Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 expire between 2015 and 2024. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee's termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of U.S. Cellular Common Shares on the date of grant.
U.S. Cellular estimated the fair value of stock options granted during 2014, 2013, and 2012 using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below.
		2014	2013		2012
Expected life		4.5 years	4.6-9.0 years		4.5 years
Expected annual volatility rate		28.0%-28.1%	29.2%-39.6%		40.7%-42.6%
Dividend yield		0%	0%		0%
Risk-free interest rate		1.4%-1.5%	0.7%-2.4%		0.5%-0.9
Estimated annual forfeiture rate		9.40%	0.0%-8.1%		0.0%-9.1%
The fair value of options is recognized as compensation cost using an accelerated attribution method over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
A summary of U.S. Cellular stock options outstanding (total and portion exercisable) and changes during the three years ended December 31, 2014, is presented in the table below:
										Weighted
										Average
			Weighted			Weighted				Remaining
			Average			Average		Aggregate		Contractual
		Number of	Exercise			Grant Date		Intrinsic		Life
Common Share Options		Options	Price			Fair Value		Value		(in years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2011		2,834,000	$	43.07
(1,533,000 exercisable)				46.23
Granted		677,000		34.91		$	12.61
Exercised		-47,000		29.82				$	205,000
Forfeited		-117,000		38.45
Expired		-133,000		46.17
Outstanding at December 31, 2012		3,214,000	$	41.58
(1,928,000 exercisable)				43.99
Granted		1,213,000		32.45		$	11.53
Exercised		-892,000		34.78				$	6,787,000
Forfeited		-574,000		34.17
Expired		-247,000		48.35
Outstanding at December 31, 2013		2,714,000	$	42.22
(1,359,000 exercisable)				46.91
Granted		1,116,000		41.21		$	10.68
Exercised		-233,000		32.8				$	1,966,000
Forfeited		-144,000		35.09
Expired		-65,000		45.68
Outstanding at December 31, 2014		3,388,000	$	41.51				$	7,495,000	6.7
(1,586,000 exercisable)			$	45.28				$	2,984,000	4.4
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between U.S. Cellular's closing stock price and the exercise price multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that was received by the option holders upon exercise or that would have been received by option holders had all options been exercised on December 31, 2014.
Long-Term Incentive Plans—Restricted Stock Units—U.S. Cellular grants restricted stock unit awards, which generally vest after three years, to key employees.
U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of U.S. Cellular shares on the date of grant. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
A summary of U.S. Cellular nonvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2014 and changes during the year then ended is presented in the table below:
Common Restricted Stock Units		Number	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2013		1,170,000	$	36.46
Granted		370,000		41.24
Vested		-274,000		41.92
Forfeited		-124,000		34.38
Nonvested at December 31, 2014		1,142,000	$	35.6
The total fair value of restricted stock units that vested during 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $11.1 million, $8.8 million and $8.9 million, respectively, as of the respective vesting dates. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $41.24, $32.06 and $34.09, respectively.
Long-Term Incentive Plans—Deferred Compensation Stock Units—Certain U.S. Cellular employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units. The amount of U.S. Cellular's matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units.
There were no deferred compensation stock units granted or that vested during 2014. The total fair value of deferred compensation stock units that vested during 2013 and 2012 was less than $0.1 million in each year. The weighted average grant date fair value of deferred compensation stock units granted in 2013 and 2012 was $31.50 and $36.34, respectively. As of December 31, 2014, there were no vested or unissued deferred compensation stock units outstanding.
Compensation of Non-Employee Directors—U.S. Cellular issued 14,200, 13,000 and 7,600 Common Shares in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, under its Non-Employee Director compensation plan.

Business_Segment_Information

Business Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Business Segment Information	NOTE 18 BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
	U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom are billed for all services they receive from TDS, consisting primarily of information processing, accounting and finance, and general management services. Such billings are based on expenses specifically identified to U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom and on allocations of common expenses. Management believes the method used to allocate common expenses is reasonable and that all expenses and costs applicable to U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom are reflected in the accompanying business segment information on a basis that is representative of what they would have been if U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom operated on a stand-alone basis.
	Financial data for TDS' reportable segments for 2014, 2013 and 2012, is as follows.
						TDS Telecom
	Year Ended or as of December 31, 2014			U.S. Cellular		Wireline		Cable		HMS		TDS Telecom Eliminations		TDS Telecom Total		Corporate, Eliminations and Other		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating revenues
		Service		$	3,397,937	$	714,586	$	116,855	$	109,766	$	-3,697	$	937,510	$	-6,793	$	4,328,654
		Equipment and product sales			494,810		1,836		-		148,966		-		150,802		35,172		680,784
			Total operating revenues		3,892,747		716,422		116,855		258,732		-3,697		1,088,312		28,379		5,009,438
	Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)				769,911		256,878		54,265		77,392		-3,504		385,031		9,716		1,164,658
	Cost of equipment and products				1,192,669		2,336		-		126,362		-		128,698		25,444		1,346,811
	Selling, general and administrative				1,591,914		189,956		36,175		53,020		-193		278,958		-5,065		1,865,807
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				605,997		169,044		23,643		26,912		-		219,599		10,936		836,532
	Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		84,000		-		84,000		3,802		87,802
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net				21,469		2,091		2,482		181		-		4,754		308		26,531
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-32,830		-2,357		-		-		-		-2,357		19,341		-15,846
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-112,993		-		-		-		-		-		-		-112,993
	Operating income (loss)				-143,390		98,474		290		-109,135		-		-10,371		-36,103		-189,864
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities				129,764		8		-		-		-		8		2,193		131,965
	Interest and dividend income				12,148		2,396		8		26		-		2,430		2,379		16,957
	Interest expense				-57,386		2,695		95		-1,602		-		1,188		-55,199		-111,397
	Other, net				160		-32		-1		12		-		-21		-24		115
	Income (loss) before income taxes				-58,704		103,541		392		-110,699		-		-6,766		-86,754		-152,224
	Add back:
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				605,997		169,044		23,643		26,912		-		219,599		10,936		836,532
	Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		84,000		-		84,000		3,802		87,802
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-32,830		-2,357		-		-		-		-2,357		19,341		-15,846
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-112,993		-		-		-		-		-		-		-112,993
	Interest expense				57,386		-2,695		-95		1,602		-		-1,188		55,199		111,397
	Adjusted income before income taxes			$	458,856	$	267,533	$	23,940	$	1,815	$	-	$	293,288	$	2,524	$	754,668
	Investments in unconsolidated entities			$	283,014	$	3,803	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	3,803	$	34,912	$	321,729
	Total assets			$	6,487,268	$	1,419,478	$	563,585	$	268,972	$	-	$	2,252,035	$	167,636	$	8,906,939
	Capital expenditures			$	557,615	$	135,805	$	35,640	$	36,618	$	-	$	208,063	$	4,899	$	770,577
						TDS Telecom
	Year Ended or as of December 31, 2013			U.S. Cellular		Wireline		Cable		HMS		TDS Telecom Eliminations		TDS Telecom Total		Corporate, Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating revenues
		Service		$	3,594,773	$	723,372	$	35,883	$	94,875	$	-1,063	$	853,067	$	-4,349	$	4,443,491
		Equipment and product sales			324,063		3,195		-		90,741		-		93,936		39,746		457,745
			Total operating revenues		3,918,836		726,567		35,883		185,616		-1,063		947,003		35,397		4,901,236
	Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)				763,435		266,635		17,274		60,423		-1,000		343,332		11,416		1,118,183
	Cost of equipment and products				999,000		3,831		-		75,991		-		79,822		28,311		1,107,133
	Selling, general and administrative				1,677,395		220,097		11,054		44,945		-63		276,033		-5,650		1,947,778
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				803,781		170,868		7,571		24,262		-		202,701		11,595		1,018,077
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net				30,606		130		28		125		-		283		-48		30,841
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-246,767		-		-		-		-		-		-53,889		-300,656
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-255,479		-		-		-		-		-		-		-255,479
	Operating income (loss)				146,865		65,006		-44		-20,130		-		44,832		43,662		235,359
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities				131,949		19		-		-		-		19		746		132,714
	Interest and dividend income				3,961		1,759		2		63		-		1,824		3,307		9,092
	Gain (loss) on investments				18,556		830		-		-		-		830		-4,839		14,547
	Interest expense				-43,963		3,265		-74		-1,626		-		1,565		-56,413		-98,811
	Other, net				288		-214		-		29		-		-185		-140		-37
	Income (loss) before income taxes				257,656		70,665		-116		-21,664		-		48,885		-13,677		292,864
	Add back:
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				803,781		170,868		7,571		24,262		-		202,701		11,595		1,018,077
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-246,767		-		-		-		-		-		-53,889		-300,656
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-255,479		-		-		-		-		-		-		-255,479
	Gain (loss) on investments				-18,556		-830		-		-		-		-830		4,839		-14,547
	Interest expense				43,963		-3,265		74		1,626		-		-1,565		56,413		98,811
	Adjusted income before income taxes			$	584,598	$	237,438	$	7,529	$	4,224	$	-	$	249,191	$	5,281	$	839,070
	Investments in unconsolidated entities			$	265,585	$	3,809	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	3,809	$	32,378	$	301,772
	Total assets			$	6,445,708	$	1,452,502	$	278,969	$	328,397	$	-	$	2,059,868	$	398,571	$	8,904,147
Capital expenditures			$	737,501	$	140,009	$	8,375	$	16,474	$	-	$	164,858	$	7,301	$	909,660
					TDS Telecom
Year Ended or as of December 31, 2012			U.S. Cellular		Wireline		HMS		TDS Telecom Eliminations		TDS Telecom Total		Corporate, Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items		Total
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
	Service		$	4,098,856	$	738,216	$	77,096	$	-252	$	815,060	$	38,687	$	4,952,603
	Equipment and product sales			353,228		3,532		35,914		-		39,446		-		392,674
		Total operating revenues		4,452,084		741,748		113,010		-252		854,506		38,687		5,345,277
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)				946,805		270,333		46,836		-252		316,917		10,903		1,274,625
Cost of equipment and products				935,947		3,732		28,945		-		32,677		29,321		997,945
Selling, general and administrative				1,764,933		235,716		34,193		-		269,909		-941		2,033,901
Depreciation, amortization and accretion				608,633		172,526		20,568		-		193,094		11,899		813,626
Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		-		-		515		515
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net				18,088		1,020		108		-		1,128		525		19,741
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				21,022		39		-		-		39		-		21,061
Operating income (loss)				156,656		58,382		-17,640		-		40,742		-13,535		183,863
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities				90,364		10		-		-		10		2,493		92,867
Interest and dividend income				3,644		3,085		25		-		3,110		2,494		9,248
Gain (loss) on investments				-3,718		-		-		-		-		-		-3,718
Interest expense				-42,393		2,674		-1,160		-		1,514		-45,866		-86,745
Other, net				500		-353		-1		-		-354		574		720
Income (loss) before income taxes				205,053		63,798		-18,776		-		45,022		-53,840		196,235
Add back:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion				608,633		172,526		20,568		-		193,094		11,899		813,626
Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		-		-		515		515
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				21,022		39		-		-		39		-		21,061
Gain (loss) on investments				3,718		-		-		-		-		-		3,718
Interest expense				42,393		-2,674		1,160		-		-1,514		45,866		86,745
Adjusted income before income taxes			$	880,819	$	233,689	$	2,952	$	-	$	236,641	$	4,440	$	1,121,900
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$	144,531	$	3,809	$	-	$	-	$	3,809	$	31,581	$	179,921
Total assets			$	6,587,450	$	1,519,698	$	267,798	$	-	$	1,787,496	$	248,954	$	8,623,900
Capital expenditures			$	836,748	$	158,580	$	15,344	$	-	$	173,924	$	-6,051	$	1,004,621
Adjusted income before income taxes is a segment measure reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to the segments and assessing their performance. Adjusted income before income taxes is defined as Income (loss) before income taxes, adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. Adjusted income before income taxes excludes these items in order to show operating results on a more comparable basis from period to period. From time to time, TDS may also exclude other items from adjusted income before income taxes if such items help reflect operating results on a more comparable basis. TDS does not intend to imply that any of such items that are excluded are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. TDS believes Adjusted income before income taxes is a useful measure of TDS' operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, discrete gains and losses and financing charges (Interest expense).

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Disclos

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures	NOTE 19 SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES
	Following are supplemental cash flow disclosures regarding interest paid and income taxes paid.
	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Interest paid	$	108,510	$	96,241	$	88,208
	Income taxes paid (refunded)		48,876		175,629		-62,042
	Following are supplemental cash flow disclosures regarding transactions related to stock-based compensation awards. In certain situations, TDS and U.S. Cellular withhold shares that are issuable upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted shares to cover, and with a value equivalent to, the exercise price and/or the amount of taxes required to be withheld from the stock award holder at the time of the exercise or vesting. TDS and U.S. Cellular then pay the amount of the required tax withholdings to the taxing authorities in cash.
	TDS:
	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Common Shares withheld		109,061		265,748		49,840
	Special Common Shares withheld		-		-		1,381
	Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$	2,751	$	7,639	$	1,102
	Aggregate value of Special Common Shares withheld	$	-	$	-	$	33
	Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options		732		12,092		16
	Cash disbursements for payment of taxes		-2,751		-2,438		-1,135
	Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	$	-2,019	$	9,654	$	-1,119
	U.S. Cellular:
	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Common Shares withheld		163,355		606,582		92,846
	Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$	6,868	$	25,179	$	3,604
	Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options		5,166		10,468		900
	Cash disbursements for payment of taxes		-4,336		-4,684		-3,105
	Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	$	830	$	5,784	$	-2,205
	Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“the Recovery Act”), TDS Telecom was awarded $105.1 million in federal grants and will provide $30.9 million of its own funds to complete 44 projects to provide broadband access in unserved areas. TDS Telecom received $15.3 million, $41.9 million, and $16.7 million in grants in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. TDS Telecom has received cumulative grants of $78.9 million as of December 31, 2014. These funds reduced the carrying amount of the assets to which they relate. TDS Telecom had recorded $14.2 million and $23.6 million in grants receivable at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These amounts were included as a component of Accounts receivable, Other, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	On September 27, 2012, the FCC conducted a single round, sealed bid, reverse auction to award up to $300 million in one-time Mobility Fund Phase I support to successful bidders that commit to provide 3G, or better, wireless service in areas designated as unserved by the FCC.  This auction was designated by the FCC as Auction 901. U.S. Cellular and several of its wholly-owned subsidiaries participated in Auction 901 and were winning bidders in eligible areas within 10 states and will receive up to $40.1 million in one-time support from the Mobility Fund. These funds when received reduce the carrying amount of the assets to which they relate or offset operating expenses. In connection with these winning bids, in June 2013, U.S. Cellular provided $17.4 million letters of credit to the FCC, of which the entire amount remained outstanding as of December 31, 2014. U.S. Cellular has received $13.4 million in support funds as of December 31, 2014, of which $1.9 million is included as a component of Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and $11.5 million reduced the carrying amount of the assets to which they relate, which are included in Property, plant and equipment in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Certain_Relationships_And_Rela

Certain Relationships And Related Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Text Block
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions	NOTE 20 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
	The following persons are partners of Sidley Austin LLP, the principal law firm of TDS and its subsidiaries: Walter C.D. Carlson, a trustee and beneficiary of a voting trust that controls TDS, the non-executive Chairman of the Board and member of the Board of Directors of TDS and a director of U.S. Cellular, a subsidiary of TDS; William S. DeCarlo, the General Counsel of TDS and an Assistant Secretary of TDS and certain subsidiaries of TDS; and Stephen P. Fitzell, the General Counsel of U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecommunications Corporation and an Assistant Secretary of certain subsidiaries of TDS. Walter C.D. Carlson does not provide legal services to TDS or its subsidiaries. TDS, U.S. Cellular and their subsidiaries incurred legal costs from Sidley Austin LLP of $15.4 million in 2014, $17.6 million in 2013 and $13.6 million in 2012.
	The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of TDS is responsible for the review and evaluation of all related-party transactions as such term is defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Significant Accounting Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations	Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) is a diversified telecommunications company providing high-quality telecommunications services to approximately 4.8 million wireless customers and 1.2 million wireline and cable connections at December 31, 2014. TDS conducts all of its wireless operations through its 84%-owned subsidiary, United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”). TDS provides wireline services, cable services and hosted and managed services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, TDS Telecommunications Corporation (“TDS Telecom”).
	TDS has the following reportable segments: U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom's Wireline, Cable and Hosted and Managed Services (“HMS”) operations. TDS' non-reportable other business activities are presented as “Corporate, Eliminations and Other”. This includes the operations of TDS' majority owned printing and distribution company, Suttle-Straus, Inc. (“Suttle-Straus”) and TDS' wholly owned subsidiary, Airadigm Communications, Inc. (“Airadigm”). Suttle-Straus and Airadigm's financial results were not significant to TDS' operations. All of TDS' segments operate only in the United States, except for HMS, which includes an insignificant foreign operation. See Note 18 — Business Segment Information for summary financial information on each business segment.
Principles of Consolidation	The accounting policies of TDS conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). Unless otherwise specified, references to accounting provisions and GAAP in these notes refer to the requirements of the FASB ASC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TDS, its majority-owned subsidiaries, general partnerships in which it has a majority partnership interest and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which TDS is the primary beneficiary. Both VIE and primary beneficiary represent terms defined by GAAP.
	Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Reclassifications	Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications did not affect consolidated net income attributable to TDS shareholders, cash flows, assets, liabilities or equity for the years presented.
	In 2014, TDS began presenting separately Equipment and product sales and Cost of equipment and products. As a result of recent HMS acquisitions, these amounts are now more significant to TDS and, accordingly, are shown as separate captions under Operating revenues and Operating expenses, respectively, on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Amounts in 2013 and 2012 have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. The separate presentation of Equipment and product sales and Cost of equipment and products had no other impact on the TDS financial statements.
Use of Estimates	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (a) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and (b) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are involved in accounting for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, income taxes, the loyalty reward program and equipment installment plans.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Accounts Receivable	U.S. Cellular's accounts receivable consist primarily of amounts owed by customers for wireless services and equipment sales, including sales of certain devices under equipment installment plans, by agents for sales of equipment to them and by other wireless carriers whose customers have used U.S. Cellular's wireless systems.
	TDS Telecom's accounts receivable primarily consist of amounts owed by customers for services and products provided, by interexchange carriers for long-distance traffic which TDS Telecom carries on its network, and by interstate and intrastate revenue pools that distribute access charges.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	The allowance for doubtful accounts is the best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses related to existing billed and unbilled accounts receivable. The allowance is estimated based on historical experience, account aging and other factors that could affect collectability. Accounts receivable balances are reviewed on either an aggregate or individual basis for collectability depending on the type of receivable. When it is probable that an account balance will not be collected, the account balance is charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. TDS does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
Inventory	Inventory consists primarily of wireless devices stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method and market determined by replacement costs or estimated net realizable value. TDS Telecom's materials and supplies are stated at average cost.
Intangible Assets	Goodwill
	TDS has Goodwill as a result of its acquisition of wireless, wireline, HMS, and cable companies and, under previous business combination guidance in effect prior to 2009, step acquisitions related to U.S. Cellular's repurchase of its common shares. Such Goodwill represents the excess of the total purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in these transactions. TDS performs its annual impairment assessment of Goodwill as of November 1 of each year.
	See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional details related to Goodwill.
	U.S. Cellular
	For purposes of conducting its Goodwill impairment test in 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular identified four reporting units. The four reporting units represent four geographic groupings of operating markets, representing four geographic service areas. A discounted cash flow approach was used to value each reporting unit for purposes of the Goodwill impairment review.
	TDS Telecom
	For purposes of the 2014 annual impairment testing, TDS Telecom has identified three reporting units: Wireline, HMS and Cable. For purposes of the 2013 annual impairment testing, TDS Telecom had three reporting units: incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”), HMS and Cable. During 2014, the ILEC operations were combined with the competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) operations to create the Wireline reporting unit. There is no Goodwill at the CLEC operations. The discounted cash flow approach and guideline public company method were used to value the Wireline and Cable reporting units for the 2014 annual impairment test. For the 2014 annual impairment test, TDS Telecom performed a qualitative assessment of the HMS reporting unit.
	Licenses
	Licenses consist of direct and incremental costs incurred in acquiring Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses to provide wireless service.
	TDS has determined that wireless licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets and, therefore, not subject to amortization based on the following factors:
	Radio spectrum is not a depleting asset.
	The ability to use radio spectrum is not limited to any one technology.
	TDS and its consolidated subsidiaries are licensed to use radio spectrum through the FCC licensing process, which enables licensees to utilize specified portions of the spectrum for the provision of wireless service.
	TDS and its consolidated subsidiaries are required to renew their FCC licenses every ten years or, in some cases, every fifteen years. To date, all of TDS' license renewal applications have been granted by the FCC. Generally, license renewal applications filed by licensees otherwise in compliance with FCC regulations are routinely granted. If, however, a license renewal application is challenged either by a competing applicant for the license or by a petition to deny the renewal application, the license will be renewed if the licensee can demonstrate its entitlement to a “renewal expectancy.” Licensees are entitled to such an expectancy if they can demonstrate to the FCC that they have provided “substantial service” during their license term and have “substantially complied” with FCC rules and policies. TDS believes that it is probable that its future license renewal applications will be granted.
	U.S. Cellular performs its annual impairment assessment of its licenses as of November 1 of each year. For purposes of its 2014 and 2013 impairment testing of Licenses, U.S. Cellular separated its FCC licenses into eleven units of accounting based on geographic service areas. In both 2014 and 2013, seven of the units of accounting represented geographic groupings of licenses which, because they were not being utilized and, therefore, were not expected to generate cash flows from operating activities in the foreseeable future, were considered separate units of accounting for purposes of impairment testing. U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of built licenses for purposes of impairment testing using the build-out method. The build-out method estimates the fair value of Licenses by discounting to present value the future cash flows calculated based on a hypothetical cost to build-out U.S. Cellular's network.
	For units of accounting which consist of unbuilt licenses, the fair value of the unbuilt licenses is assumed to change by the same percentage, and in the same direction, that the fair value of built licenses measured using the build-out method changed during the period.
	See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional details related to Licenses.
	Franchise rights
	TDS has Franchise rights as a result of acquisitions of cable businesses. Franchise rights are intangible assets that provide their holder with the right to operate a business in a certain geographical location as sanctioned by the franchiser, usually a government agency. TDS has determined that Franchise rights are indefinite-lived intangible assets and, therefore, not subject to amortization because TDS expects both the renewal by the granting authorities and the cash flows generated from the Franchise rights to continue indefinitely. Cable Franchise rights are generally granted for ten year periods and may be renewed for additional terms upon approval by the granting authority. TDS anticipates that future renewals of its Franchise rights will be granted.
	TDS Telecom performs its annual impairment assessment of Franchise rights as of November 1 of each year. TDS Telecom tests Franchise rights for impairment at a unit of accounting level. For purposes of its impairment testing of Franchise rights, TDS Telecom identified one unit of accounting. TDS Telecom estimates the fair value of franchise rights for purposes of impairment testing using the build-out method. For the 2013 annual impairment test, TDS Telecom performed a qualitative assessment of the Franchise rights.
	See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional details related to Franchise rights.
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities	For its equity method investments for which financial information is readily available, TDS records its equity in the earnings of the entity in the current period. For its equity method investments for which financial information is not readily available, TDS records its equity in the earnings of the entity on a one quarter lag basis.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, plant and equipment is stated at the original cost of construction or purchase including capitalized costs of certain taxes, payroll-related expenses, interest and estimated costs to remove the assets.
	Expenditures that enhance the productive capacity of assets in service or extend their useful lives are capitalized and depreciated. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs of assets in service are charged to Cost of services and products or Selling, general and administrative expense, as applicable. Retirements and disposals of assets are recorded by removing the original cost of the asset (along with the related accumulated depreciation) from plant in service and charging it, together with net removal costs (removal costs less an applicable accrued asset retirement obligation and salvage value realized), to (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net.
	TDS capitalizes certain costs of developing new information systems.
Depreciation and Amortization	Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset, except for certain Wireline segment assets, which use the group depreciation method. The group depreciation method develops a depreciation rate based on the average useful life of a specific group of assets, rather than each asset individually. TDS depreciates leasehold improvement assets associated with leased properties over periods ranging from one to thirty years; such periods approximate the shorter of the assets' economic lives or the specific lease terms.
	Useful lives of specific assets are reviewed throughout the year to determine if changes in technology or other business changes would warrant accelerating the depreciation of those specific assets. Due to the Divestiture Transaction more fully described in Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, U.S. Cellular changed the useful lives of certain assets in 2013 and 2012. Other than the Divestiture Transaction, there were no other material changes to useful lives of property, plant and equipment in 2014, 2013 or 2012. TDS Telecom did not materially change the useful lives of its property, plant and equipment in 2014, 2013 or 2012. See Note 9 — Property, Plant and Equipment for additional details related to useful lives.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets	TDS reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired.
	U.S. Cellular has one asset group for purposes of assessing property, plant and equipment for impairment based on the fact that the individual operating markets are reliant on centrally operated data centers, mobile telephone switching offices and network operations center. U.S. Cellular operates a single integrated national wireless network, and the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities represent cash flows generated by this single interdependent network.
	TDS Telecom has three asset groups of Wireline, Cable and HMS for purposes of assessing property, plant and equipment for impairment based on their integrated network, assets and operations. The cash flows generated by each of these groups is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities.
Agent Liabilities	U.S. Cellular has relationships with agents, which are independent businesses that obtain customers for U.S. Cellular. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular had accrued $95.3 million and $121.3 million, respectively, for amounts due to agents. This amount is included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Other Assets and Deferred Charges	Other assets and deferred charges include underwriters' and legal fees and other charges related to issuing various borrowing instruments and other long-term agreements, and are amortized over the respective term of each instrument. The amounts of deferred charges included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2014 and 2013, are shown net of accumulated amortization of $58.1 million and $41.4 million, respectively. At December 31, 2014, Other assets and deferred charges includes a $60.0 million deposit made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. to the FCC to participate in Auction 97. See Note 14 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.
Asset Retirement Obligations	TDS accounts for asset retirement obligations by recording the fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement in the period in which the obligations are incurred. At the time the liability is incurred, TDS records a liability equal to the net present value of the estimated cost of the asset retirement obligation and increases the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset by an equal amount. Until the obligation is fulfilled, TDS updates its estimates relating to cash flows required and timing of settlement. TDS records the present value of the changes in the future value as an increase or decrease to the liability and the related carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to future value over a period ending with the estimated settlement date of the respective asset retirement obligation. The carrying amount of the long-lived asset is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the recorded liability is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Treasury Shares	Common Shares repurchased by TDS are recorded at cost as treasury shares and result in a reduction of equity. Treasury shares are reissued as part of TDS’ stock-based compensation programs. When treasury shares are reissued, TDS determines the cost using the first-in, first-out cost method. The difference between the cost of the treasury shares and reissuance price is included in Capital in excess of par value or Retained earnings.
Revenue Recognition	Revenues related to services are recognized as services are rendered. Revenues billed in advance or in arrears of the services being provided are estimated and deferred or accrued, as appropriate.
	Revenues from sales of equipment, products and accessories are recognized when title and risk of loss passes to the agent or end-user customer.
	Multiple Deliverable Arrangements
	U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom sell multiple element service and equipment offerings. In these instances, revenues are allocated using the relative selling price method. Under this method, arrangement consideration, which consists of the amounts billed to the customer net of any cash-based discounts, is allocated to each element on the basis of its relative selling price. Revenue recognized for the delivered items is limited to the amount due from the customer that is not contingent upon the delivery of additional products or services.
	Loyalty Reward Program
	U.S. Cellular follows the deferred revenue method of accounting for its loyalty reward program. Under this method, revenue allocated to loyalty reward points is deferred. The amount allocated to the loyalty points is based on the estimated retail price of the products and services for which points may be redeemed divided by the number of loyalty points required to receive such products and services. This is calculated on a weighted average basis and requires U.S. Cellular to estimate the percentage of loyalty points that will be redeemed for each product or service.
	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, U.S. Cellular had deferred revenue related to loyalty reward points outstanding of $94.6 million and $116.2 million, respectively. These amounts are recorded in Customer deposits and deferred revenues (a current liability account) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, as customers may redeem their reward points within the current period.
	Revenue is recognized at the time of customer redemption or when such points have been depleted via an account maintenance charge. U.S. Cellular employs the proportional model to recognize revenues associated with breakage. Under the proportional model, U.S. Cellular allocates a portion of the estimated future breakage to each redemption and records revenue proportionally. U.S. Cellular periodically reviews and revises the redemption and depletion rates to estimate future breakage as appropriate based on history and related future expectations.
	In the fourth quarter of 2013, U.S. Cellular issued loyalty reward points with a value of $43.5 million as a loyalty bonus in recognition of the inconvenience experienced by customers during U.S. Cellular's billing system conversion in 2013. The value of the loyalty bonus reduced Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and increased Customer deposits and deferred revenues in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Equipment Installment Plans
	U.S. Cellular equipment revenue under equipment installment plan contracts is recognized at the time the device is delivered to the end-user customer for the selling price of the device, net of any deferred imputed interest or trade-in right, if applicable.   Imputed interest is reflected as a reduction to the receivable balance and recognized over the duration of the plan as a component of Interest and dividend income. See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans for additional information.
	Incentives
	Discounts and incentives are recognized as a reduction of Operating revenues concurrently with the associated revenue, and are allocated to the various products and services in the bundled offering based on their respective relative selling price.
	U.S. Cellular issues rebates to its agents and end customers. These incentives are recognized as a reduction to revenue at the time the wireless device sale to the agent or customer occurs, respectively. The total potential rebates and incentives are reduced by U.S. Cellular's estimate of rebates that will not be redeemed by customers based on historical experience of such redemptions.
	Activation Fees
	TDS charges its end customers activation fees in connection with the sale of certain services and equipment. Activation fees charged by TDS Telecom in conjunction with a service offering are deferred and recognized over the average customer's service period. Device activation fees charged at U.S. Cellular agent locations, where U.S. Cellular does not also sell a wireless device to the customer, are deferred and recognized over the average device life. Device activation fees charged as a result of device sales at U.S. Cellular company-owned retail stores are recognized at the time the device is delivered to the customer.
	Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities – Gross vs. Net
	TDS records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities net within a tax liability account if the tax is assessed upon the customer and TDS merely acts as an agent in collecting the tax on behalf of the imposing governmental authority. If the tax is assessed upon TDS, then amounts collected from customers as recovery of the tax are recorded in Service revenues and amounts remitted to governmental authorities are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities totaled $113.5 million, $131.0 million and $152.4 million for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	Wholesale Revenues
	TDS Telecom earns Wholesale revenues in its Wireline segment as a result of its participation in revenue pools with other telephone companies for interstate revenue and for certain intrastate revenue. Such pools are funded by long distance revenue and/or access charges within state jurisdictions and by access charges in the interstate jurisdiction. Wholesale revenues earned through the various pooling processes are recorded based on estimates following the National Exchange Carrier Association's rules as approved by the FCC.
	Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”) Revenues
	Telecommunications companies may be designated by states, or in some cases by the FCC, as an ETC to receive support payments from the Universal Service Fund if they provide specified services in “high cost” areas. ETC revenues recognized in the reporting period represent the amounts which U.S. Cellular is entitled to receive for such period, as determined and approved in connection with U.S. Cellular's designation as an ETC in various states.
Advertising Costs	TDS expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $228.5 million, $212.8 million and $240.9 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Income Taxes	TDS files a consolidated federal income tax return. Deferred taxes are computed using the liability method, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for future deductible temporary differences and operating loss carryforwards, and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for future taxable temporary differences. Both deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates anticipated to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. Temporary differences are the differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. TDS evaluates income tax uncertainties, assesses the probability of the ultimate settlement with the applicable taxing authority and records an amount based on that assessment.
Stock-Based Compensation	TDS has established long-term incentive plans, dividend reinvestment plans, and a Non-Employee Director compensation plan. See Note 17 — Stock-based Compensation for additional information. The dividend reinvestment plan of TDS is not considered a compensatory plan and, therefore, recognition of compensation costs for grants made under this plan is not required. All other plans are considered compensatory plans; therefore, recognition of compensation costs for grants made under these plans is required.
	TDS values its share-based payment transactions using a Black-Scholes valuation model. Stock-based compensation cost recognized during the period is based on the portion of the share-based payment awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost recognized has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Pre-vesting forfeitures and expected life are estimated based on historical experience related to similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. TDS believes that its historical experience provides the best estimates of future pre-vesting forfeitures and future expected life. The expected volatility assumption is based on the historical volatility of TDS' common stock over a period commensurate with the expected life. The dividend yield assumption is equal to the dividends declared in the most recent year as a percentage of the share price on the date of grant. The risk-free interest rate assumption is determined using the U.S. Treasury Yield Curve Rate with a term length that approximates the expected life of the stock options.
	Beginning with grants in 2013, newly granted TDS stock option awards cliff vest in three years. TDS stock option awards granted prior to 2013 and U.S. Cellular stock option awards vest on an annual basis in three separate tranches. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which was generally the vesting period, for each separate vesting portion of the awards as if the awards were, in-substance, multiple awards (graded vesting attribution method).
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	On April 10, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity (“ASU 2014-08”). ASU 2014-08 changes the requirements and disclosures for reporting discontinued operations. TDS was required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-08 effective January 1, 2015, but early adoption was permitted. TDS adopted the provisions of ASU 2014-08 upon its issuance. The adoption of ASU 2014-08 did not have a significant impact on TDS' financial position or results of operations.
	On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2017. Early adoption is prohibited. TDS is evaluating what effects the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on TDS' financial position and results of operations.
	On August 27, 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”). ASU 2014-15 requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in financial statements. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15 effective January 1, 2016, but early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2014-15 is not expected to impact TDS' financial position or results of operations.
	On January 9, 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 eliminates from GAAP the requirement to separately classify, present and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-01 effective January 1, 2016, but early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-01 is not expected to impact TDS' financial position or results of operations.
	On February 18, 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 simplifies consolidation accounting by reducing the number of consolidation models and changing various aspects of current GAAP, including certain consolidation criteria for variable interest entities. TDS is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2015-02 effective January 1, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. TDS is still assessing the impact, if any, the adoption of ASU 2015-02 will have on TDS' financial position or results of operations.
Variable Interest Entities	TDS consolidates variable interest entities in which it has a controlling financial interest and is the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE.  TDS reviews these criteria initially at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when reconsideration events occur.
Legal proceedings	TDS is involved or may be involved from time to time in legal proceedings before the FCC, other regulatory authorities, and/or various state and federal courts. If TDS believes that a loss arising from such legal proceedings is probable and can be reasonably estimated, an amount is accrued in the financial statements for the estimated loss. If only a range of loss can be determined, the best estimate within that range is accrued; if none of the estimates within that range is better than another, the low end of the range is accrued. The assessment of the expected outcomes of legal proceedings is a highly subjective process that requires judgments about future events. The legal proceedings are reviewed at least quarterly to determine the adequacy of accruals and related financial statement disclosures. The ultimate outcomes of legal proceedings could differ materially from amounts accrued in the financial statements.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Table)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts	The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
			2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Beginning balance		$	65,604	$	33,415	$	31,071
		Additions, net of recoveries		107,861		105,629		74,695
		Deductions		-124,828		-73,440		-72,351
	Ending balance (1)		$	48,637	$	65,604	$	33,415
	-1	In 2014, this balance includes a $6.1 million allowance related to the long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment receivables.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value measurements			Level within the Fair Value Hierarchy	31-Dec-14				31-Dec-13
				Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	471,901	$	471,901	$	830,014	$	830,014
	Short-term investments
		U.S. Treasury Notes	1		-		-		50,104		50,104
	Long-term debt
		Retail	2		1,453,250		1,414,105		1,178,250		1,048,010
		Institutional and other	2		537,471		518,322		537,454		512,635

Equipment_Installment_Plans_Ta

Equipment Installment Plans (Table)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equipment Installment Plans
Equipment installment plans	The following table summarizes the unbilled equipment installment plan receivables as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Such amounts are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Accounts receivable – customers and agents and Other assets and deferred charges, where applicable.
	(Dollars in thousands)	31-Dec-14		31-Dec-13
	Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	127,400	$	611
	Short-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		-16,365		-
	Short-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		-3,686		-20
	Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	107,349	$	591
	Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	89,435	$	-
	Long-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		-2,791		-
	Long-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		-6,065		-
	Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	80,579	$	-

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure
Income taxes receivable (payable)	December 31,		2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Federal income taxes receivable (payable)		$	108,820		$	-20,288
	Net state income taxes receivable (payable)			4,391			2,397
Income tax expense (benefit)	Income tax expense (benefit) is summarized as follows:
	Year Ended December 31,			2014			2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Current
		Federal		$	-87,736		$	181,579		$	9,705
		State			11,091			11,614			5,092
	Deferred
		Federal			41,851			-65,970			61,113
		Federal - valuation allowance adjustment			-10,816			-			-
		State			2,208			-1,180			-2,328
		State - valuation allowance adjustment			38,470			-			-
				$	-4,932		$	126,043		$	73,582
Income tax reconciliation	Year Ended December 31,		2014						2013					2012
			Amount			Rate			Amount			Rate		Amount		Rate
	(Dollars in millions)
	Statutory federal income tax expense and rate		$	-53.3		35	%		$	102.5		35	%	$	68.7	35	%
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit (1)			42.8		-28.1				10.5		3.6			8.4	4.2
	Effect of noncontrolling interests			-5.8		3.8				-1		-0.4			-	-
	Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets (2)			-		-				14.9		5.1			-	-
	Correction of deferred taxes (3)			-		-				-		-			-6.1	-3.1
	Change in federal valuation allowance (4)			-8.7		5.7				-		-			-	-
	Goodwill impairment (5)			18.3		-12				-		-			-	-
	Other differences, net			1.8		-1.2				-0.9		-0.3			2.6	1.4
	Total income tax expense and rate		$	-4.9		3.2	%		$	126		43	%	$	73.6	37.5	%
	-1	State income taxes, net of federal benefit, include changes in unrecognized tax benefits as well as adjustments to the valuation allowance. During the third quarter of 2014 TDS recorded a $38.5 million increase to income tax expense related to a valuation allowance recorded against certain state deferred tax assets. In each interim period, TDS evaluates the available positive and negative evidence to assess whether deferred tax assets are realizable, on a more likely than not basis. During the year ended December 31, 2014, based on revised forecasts of future state income, TDS concluded that the negative evidence related to the realization of certain state deferred tax assets outweighed the positive evidence. Accordingly, TDS determined that such deferred tax assets related to certain states were not realizable, on a more likely than not basis.
	-2	Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets represents 2013 tax expense related to the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation and the Divestiture Transaction.
	-3	Correction of deferred taxes reflects immaterial adjustments to correct deferred tax balances in 2012 related to tax basis and law changes that related to periods prior to 2012.
	-4	Change in federal valuation allowance relates primarily to a decrease to income tax expense in the third quarter of 2014 due to a valuation allowance reduction for federal net operating losses previously limited under loss utilization rules. Due to the shutdown of Airadigm’s consumer wireless business and resulting intercompany sale of certain assets by Airadigm to U.S. Cellular during the year (as described in Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges), Airadigm is expected to recognize sufficient taxable income for TDS to utilize the previously limited net operating losses.
	-5	Goodwill impairment reflects an adjustment to increase income tax expense by $18.3 million related to a portion of the goodwill impairment of Suttle-Straus and the HMS reporting unit recorded in 2014 which is nondeductible for income tax purposes. See Note 7 — Intangible Assets for additional information related to the goodwill impairment.
Temporary income tax differences	December 31,			2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Deferred tax assets
		Current deferred tax assets		$	113,402		$	114,532
		Net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards			135,676			121,651
		Stock-based compensation			54,789			50,563
		Compensation and benefits - other			11,014			12,681
		Deferred rent			19,604			20,500
		Other			35,523			32,444
	Total deferred tax assets				370,008			352,371
		Less valuation allowance			-113,553			-79,064
	Net deferred tax assets				256,455			273,307
	Deferred tax liabilities
		Property, plant and equipment			667,540			637,090
		Licenses/intangibles			259,865			251,578
		Partnership investments			151,123			136,581
		Other			9,724			4,956
		Total deferred tax liabilities			1,088,252			1,030,205
	Net deferred income tax liability			$	831,797		$	756,898
Deferred tax valuation allowance	A summary of TDS' deferred tax asset valuation allowance is as follows:
				2014			2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Balance at January 1,			$	79,064		$	70,502		$	49,686
		Charged to income tax expense			34,489			1,954			5,268
		Charged to other accounts			-			6,608			15,548
	Balance at December 31,			$	113,553		$	79,064		$	70,502
	As of December 31, 2014, the valuation allowance reduced current deferred tax assets by $5.7 million and noncurrent deferred tax assets by $107.8 million.
Income tax unrecognized benefits summary	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
				2014			2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Unrecognized tax benefits balance at January 1,			$	30,390		$	28,420		$	28,841
		Additions for tax positions of current year			7,610			6,388			7,027
		Additions for tax positions of prior years			883			1,858			1,673
		Reductions for tax positions of prior years			-399			-467			-7
		Reductions for settlements of tax positions			-312			-1,337			-21
		Reductions for lapses in statutes of limitations			-356			-4,472			-9,093
	Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31,			$	37,816		$	30,390		$	28,420

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share	Year Ended December 31,				2014			2013		2012
	(Dollars and shares in thousands, except earnings per share)
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders:
	Net income (loss) available to common shareholders of TDS used in basic earnings (loss) per share				$	-136,404		$	141,878	$	81,811
	Adjustments to compute diluted earnings:
		Noncontrolling interest adjustment				-			-1,058		-640
		Preferred dividend adjustment				-			49		-
	Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders of TDS used in diluted earnings (loss) per share				$	-136,404		$	140,869	$	81,171
	Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share
			Common Shares			101,304			101,339		101,532
			Series A Common Shares			7,181			7,151		7,139
				Total		108,485			108,490		108,671
	Effects of dilutive securities:
		Stock options (1)				-			209		11
		Restricted stock units (1)				-			375		255
		Preferred shares (1)				-			58		-
	Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per share					108,485			109,132		108,937
	Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders				$	-1.26		$	1.31	$	0.75
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders				$	-1.26		$	1.29	$	0.75
	-1		There were no effects of dilutive securities for the year ended December 31, 2014 due to the net loss for the year.
Summary of antidilutive shares	Year Ended December 31,		2014		2013		2012
	(Shares in thousands)
	Stock options		8,984		7,120		8,130
	Restricted stock units		839		171		154
	Preferred shares		56		-		57

Acquisitions_Divestitures_and_

Acquisitions Divestitures and Exchanges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combination
Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges	TDS' acquisitions in 2014 and 2013 and the allocation of the purchase price for these acquisitions were as follows:
						Allocation of Purchase Price
				Purchase Price (1)		Goodwill (2)		Licenses		Franchise Rights		Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization (3)		Net Tangible Assets/(Liabilities)
	(Dollars in thousands)
	2014
	U.S. Cellular licenses			$	41,707	$	-	$	41,707	$	-	$	-	$	-
	TDS Telecom cable businesses				273,789		33,610		2,703		120,979		14,056		102,441
		Total		$	315,496	$	33,610	$	44,410	$	120,979	$	14,056	$	102,441
	2013
	U.S. Cellular licenses			$	16,540	$	-	$	16,540	$	-	$	-	$	-
	TDS Telecom cable business				264,069		61,712		-		123,668		11,542		67,147
	TDS Telecom HMS business				43,557		15,203		-		-		17,183		11,171
		Total		$	324,166	$	76,915	$	16,540	$	123,668	$	28,725	$	78,318
	-1		Cash amounts paid for acquisitions may differ from the purchase price due to cash acquired in the transactions and the timing of cash payments related to the respective transactions.
	-2		The entire amount of Goodwill acquired in 2014 and 2013 was amortizable for income tax purposes.
	-3		At the date of acquisition, the weighted average amortization period for Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization acquired was as follows: 2014: 4.6 years for TDS Telecom cable business; 2013: 2.9 years for TDS Telecom cable business and 10 years for TDS HMS business
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Business divestiture financial impacts
	(Dollars in thousands)				Expected Period of Recognition	Projected Range				Cumulative Amount Recognized as of December 31, 2014		Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2014		Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2013		Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2012
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net
		Proceeds from Sprint
			Purchase price		2013	$	-480,000	$	-480,000	$	-480,000	$	-	$	-480,000	$	-
			Sprint Cost Reimbursement		2013-2015		-120,000		-175,000		-111,970		-64,329		-47,641		-
		Net assets transferred			2013		160,073		160,073		160,073		-		160,073		-
		Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets			2012-2015		20,000		22,000		20,410		9,735		3		10,672
		Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement			2012-2015		13,000		16,000		14,147		-115		1,653		12,609
		Contract termination costs			2012-2015		70,000		100,000		84,320		24,736		59,525		59
		Transaction costs			2012-2015		5,000		7,000		6,284		719		4,428		1,137
			Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			$	-331,927	$	-349,927	$	-306,736	$	-29,254	$	-301,959	$	24,477
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
		Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values			2012-2014		215,049		215,049		215,049		16,478		178,513		20,058
	(Increase) decrease in Operating income					$	-116,878	$	-134,878	$	-91,687	$	-12,776	$	-123,446	$	44,535
	As a result of the transaction, TDS recognized the following amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
						Year Ended December 31, 2014
	(Dollars in thousands)			Balance December 31, 2013		Costs Incurred		Cash Settlements (1)		Adjustments (2)		Balance December 31, 2014
	Accrued compensation
			Employee related costs including severance, retention, outplacement	$	2,053	$	127	$	-1,223	$	-242	$	715
	Accounts payable
			Contract termination costs	$	-	$	4,018	$	-	$	-1,190	$	2,828
	Other current liabilities
			Contract termination costs	$	13,992	$	12,703	$	-22,210	$	3,747	$	8,232
	Other deferred liabilities and credits
			Contract termination costs	$	30,849	$	24,171	$	-3,569	$	-30,411	$	21,040
						Year Ended December 31, 2013
	(Dollars in thousands)			Balance December 31, 2012		Costs Incurred		Cash Settlements (1)		Adjustments (2)		Balance December 31, 2013
	Accrued compensation
			Employee related costs including severance, retention, outplacement	$	12,305	$	6,853	$	-11,905	$	-5,200	$	2,053
	Other current liabilities
			Contract termination costs	$	30	$	22,675	$	-8,713	$	-	$	13,992
	Other deferred liabilities and credits
			Contract termination costs	$	-	$	34,283	$	-3,434	$	-	$	30,849
	-1		Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
	-2		Adjustment to liability represents changes to previously accrued amounts.
	(Dollars in thousands)			Projected Range				Actual Amount Recognized Year Ended December 31, 2014
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net
		Charges for the impairment and decommissioning of various operating assets		$	8,000	$	12,000	$	8,467
		Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement			500		1,500		676
		Contract termination costs			10,000		15,000		11,099
			Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	$	18,500	$	28,500	$	20,242
			As a result of the transaction, TDS recognized the following amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
						Year Ended December 31, 2014
	(Dollars in thousands)			Balance May 23, 2014		Costs Incurred		Cash Settlements (1)		Adjustments (2)		Balance December 31, 2014
	Accrued compensation
		Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement		$	-	$	676	$	-523	$	-	$	153
	Other current liabilities
		Contract termination costs		$	-	$	7,475	$	-4,291	$	1,043	$	4,227
	Other deferred liabilities and credits
		Contract termination costs		$	-	$	3,975	$	-	$	-1,396	$	2,579
	-1		Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
	-2		Adjustment to liability represents changes to previously accrued amounts.
Assets and Liabilities held for sale	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the following assets were classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale":
				Current Assets		Other Assets and Deferred Charges		Licenses		Goodwill		Property, Plant and Equipment		Total Assets Held for Sale
	(Dollars in thousands)
	2014
	Divestiture of Spectrum Licenses			$	-	$	-	$	56,809	$	-	$	-	$	56,809
	Sale of Business - Towers				1,472		773		-		4,344		31,770		38,359
	Divestiture of Wireline markets (1)				215		2		-		4,100		3,858		8,175
		Total		$	1,687	$	775	$	56,809	$	8,444	$	35,628	$	103,343
	2013
	Divestiture of Spectrum Licenses			$	-	$	-	$	16,027	$	-	$	-	$	16,027
	-1		On December 30, 2014, TDS Telecom entered into an agreement with a third party to sell certain Wireline markets.
				Current Liabilities		Other Deferred Liabilities and Credits		Total Liabilities Held for Sale
	(Dollars in thousands)
	2014
	Sale of Business - Towers			$	3,607	$	17,641	$	21,248
	Divestiture of Wireline markets				218		177		395
		Total		$	3,825	$	17,818	$	21,643

Intangible_Assets_Tables

Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Licenses and Franchise Rights	Licenses
	(Dollars in thousands)			U.S. Cellular			Wireline		Cable		Other (1)		Total
	Balance December 31, 2012			$	1,462,019		$	2,800	$	-	$	15,220	$	1,480,039
		Acquisitions			16,540			-		-		-		16,540
		Transferred to Assets held for sale			-16,027			-		-		-		-16,027
		Divestitures			-59,419			-		-		-		-59,419
		Other			2,646			-		-		-		2,646
	Balance December 31, 2013				1,405,759			2,800		-		15,220		1,423,779
		Acquisitions			41,707			-		2,703		-		44,410
		Transferred to Assets held for sale			-56,809			-		-		-		-56,809
		Exchanges, net			55,780			-		-		-		55,780
		Divestitures			-			-		-		-15,220		-15,220
		Other			1,634			-		-		-		1,634
	Balance December 31, 2014			$	1,448,071		$	2,800	$	2,703	$	-	$	1,453,574
	-1		Represents the transfer of licenses from Airadigm to U.S. Cellular in 2014. See Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.
	Franchise rights
	(Dollars in thousands)			Cable
	Balance December 31, 2012			$	-
		Acquisitions			123,668
	Balance December 31, 2013				123,668
		Acquisitions			120,979
		Divestitures			-347
	Balance December 31, 2014			$	244,300
Goodwill
Goodwill	Goodwill
	(Dollars in thousands)			U.S. Cellular			Wireline (1)		Cable		HMS		Other (2)		Total
	Balance December 31, 2012 (3)			$	269,307		$	420,458	$	-	$	103,627	$	3,802	$	797,194
		Acquisitions			-			-		61,712		15,203		-		76,915
		Divestitures			-135			-		-		-		-		-135
		NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation			-37,131			-		-		-		-		-37,131
	Balance December 31, 2013				232,041			420,458		61,712		118,830		3,802		836,843
		Acquisitions			-			-		33,610		-		-		33,610
		Loss on impairment			-			-		-		-84,000		-3,802		-87,802
		Divestitures			-291			-2,564		-		-		-		-2,855
		Transferred to Assets held for sale			-4,344			-4,100		-		-		-		-8,444
	Balance December 31, 2014			$	227,406		$	413,794	$	95,322	$	34,830	$	-	$	771,352
	-1		In July 2014, TDS Telecom sold certain Wireline markets.
	-2		TDS performed its annual impairment review of Goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the results of this review, TDS concluded that the entire amount of Goodwill related to Suttle-Straus was impaired, which resulted in a $3.8 million loss on impairment.
	-3		Includes accumulated impairment losses in prior periods as follows: $333.9 million for U.S. Cellular, $29.4 million for Wireline and $0.5 million for Other.
HMS
Fair Value Inputs
Fair Value Key Assumptions	Key assumptions				HMS
	Revenue growth rate				6.1	%
	Terminal revenue growth rate				2.5	%
	Discount rate				11.5	%
	Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue				8.6	%

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_E

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information
Equity and cost method investments	December 31,		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Equity method investments:
		Capital contributions, loans, advances and adjustments	$	127,939	$	132,629
		Cumulative share of income		1,323,898		1,186,900
		Cumulative share of distributions		-1,145,438		-1,033,087
				306,399		286,442
	Cost method investments			15,330		15,330
	Total investments in unconsolidated entities		$	321,729	$	301,772
Equity method investments, summarized financial position	December 31,		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
		Current	$	733,133	$	520,804
		Due from affiliates		303,322		408,735
		Property and other		2,345,562		2,080,436
			$	3,382,017	$	3,009,975
	Liabilities and Equity
		Current liabilities	$	407,073	$	355,167
		Deferred credits		175,516		89,198
		Long-term liabilities		29,342		31,605
		Long-term capital lease obligations		1,722		707
		Partners’ capital and shareholders’ equity		2,768,364		2,533,298
			$	3,382,017	$	3,009,975
Equity method investments, summarized results of operations	Year Ended December 31,		2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Results of Operations
		Revenues	$	6,700,266	$	6,239,200	$	5,825,150
		Operating expenses		5,063,925		4,492,372		4,381,731
		Operating income		1,636,341		1,746,828		1,443,419
		Other income, net		6,741		4,019		7,190
		Net income	$	1,643,082	$	1,750,847	$	1,450,609
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information
Fair Value Key Assumptions	Key assumptions
	Average expected revenue growth rate (next ten years)		2	%
	Terminal revenue growth rate (after year ten)		2	%
	Discount rate		10.5	%
	Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue		14.9-18.8	%

Property_Plant_and_Equpment_Ta

Property, Plant and Equpment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
U.S. Cellular
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment			Useful Lives
	December 31,		(Years)	2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Land		N/A	$	35,031	$	36,266
	Buildings		20		296,502		304,272
	Leasehold and land improvements		30-Jan		1,086,718		1,197,520
	Cell site equipment		25-Jul		3,269,609		3,306,575
	Switching equipment		8-May		960,377		1,161,976
	Office furniture and equipment		5-Mar		553,630		539,248
	Other operating assets and equipment		5-Mar		89,663		92,456
	System development		7-Jan		1,042,195		962,698
	Work in process		N/A		125,015		116,501
					7,458,740		7,717,512
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization				-4,730,523		-4,860,992
				$	2,728,217	$	2,856,520
TDS Telecom
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment			Useful Lives
	December 31,		(Years)		2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Land		N/A	$	16,974	$	12,794
	Buildings		May-40		172,963		148,800
	Cable and wire		15-35		1,628,782		1,523,123
	Network electronic equipment		13-May		1,278,799		1,229,941
	Office furniture and equipment		10-Jul		79,666		74,507
	Other equipment		12-May		102,540		94,438
	System development		7-Mar		241,153		230,416
	Work in process		N/A		91,419		88,614
					3,612,296		3,402,633
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization				-2,518,625		-2,417,999
				$	1,093,671	$	984,634
Other
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment	December 31,	2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Property, plant and equipment	$	123,008	$	119,659
	Accumulated depreciation and amortization		-98,771		-82,669
	Total	$	24,237	$	36,990

Asset_Retirement_Obligation_Ta

Asset Retirement Obligation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligation [Abstract]
Asset retirement obligations
				U.S.		TDS				TDS
	(Dollars in thousands)			Cellular		Telecom		Other		Consolidated
	Balance December 31, 2013			$	195,568	$	75,395	$	4,275	$	275,238
		Additional liabilities accrued			2,507		2,400		-		4,907
		Revisions in estimated cash outflows			-2,792		1,777		23		-992
		Disposition of assets			-44,403		-882		-957		-46,242
		Accretion expense			12,534		4,723		249		17,506
		Transferred to Liabilities held for sale			-10,902		-177		-306		-11,385
	Balance December 31, 2014 (1)			$	152,512	$	83,236	$	3,284	$	239,032
	Balance December 31, 2012			$	179,607	$	69,969	$	4,034	$	253,610
		Additional liabilities accrued			635		3,667		-		4,302
		Revisions in estimated cash outflows			6,268		-2,562		-		3,706
		Disposition of assets			-3,534		-577		-		-4,111
		Accretion expense			12,592		4,898		241		17,731
	Balance December 31, 2013 (1)			$	195,568	$	75,395	$	4,275	$	275,238
	-1		The total amount of asset retirement obligations related to the Divestiture Transaction and Airadigm Transaction included in Other current liabilities was $9.1 million and $37.7 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt instrument facilities	The following table summarizes the terms of such revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2014:
	(Dollars in millions)			TDS			U.S. Cellular
	Maximum borrowing capacity			$	400		$	300
	Letters of credit outstanding			$	0.6		$	17.5
	Amount borrowed			$	-		$	-
	Amount available for use			$	399.4		$	282.5
	Borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus contractual spread (1)				1.92	%		1.92	%
		Sample LIBOR Rate			0.17	%		0.17	%
		Contractual spread			1.75	%		1.75	%
	Range of commitment fees on amount available for use (2)
		Low			0.13	%		0.13	%
		High			0.3	%		0.3	%
	Agreement date				Dec-10			Dec-10
	Maturity date				Dec-17			Dec-17
	Fees incurred attributable to the Revolving Credit Facility are as follows:
		Fees incurred as a percent of Maximum borrowing capacity for 2014			0.42	%		0.42	%
		Fees incurred, amount
			2014	$	1.7		$	1.3
			2013	$	0.9		$	0.8
			2012	$	1.3		$	1.1
	-1		Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a contractual spread based on TDS' or U.S. Cellular’s credit rating or, at TDS' or U.S. Cellular’s option, an alternate “Base Rate” as defined in the revolving credit agreement. TDS and U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by TDS or U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders). If TDS or U.S. Cellular provides notice of intent to borrow the same business day, interest on borrowing is at the Base Rate plus the contractual spread.
	-2		The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to TDS and U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.
	The following table summarizes the terms of the term loan facility as of February 25, 2015:
	(Dollars in millions)
	Maximum borrowing capacity			$	225
	Amount borrowed			$	-
	Amount available for use			$	225
	Hypothetical Borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread (1)				2.67	%
		Sample LIBOR Rate			0.17	%
		Contractual spread			2.5	%
	Range of commitment fees on amount available for use (2)
		Low			0.13	%
		High			0.3	%
	Agreement date				21-Jan-15
	Maturity date (3)				21-Jan-22
	-1	Borrowings under the term loan credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a contractual spread based on U.S. Cellular’s credit rating or, at U.S. Cellular’s option, an alternate “Base Rate” as defined in the term loan facility.
	-2	The term loan credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.
	-3	Principal amounts outstanding on the term loan facility will be due and payable quarterly in equal installments beginning on the last day of the fifth fiscal quarter ending after the agreement date, in an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate term loan facility commitment. Any amounts owing under the term loan facility not previously repaid will be due and payable on the maturity date.
Long term debt	Long Term Financing
	Long-term debt as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
											December 31,
	(Dollars in thousands)					Issuance date	Maturity date		Call date	2014		2013
	TDS:
			Unsecured Senior Notes
				6.63%		Mar-05	Mar-45		Mar-10	$	116,250	$	116,250
				6.88%		Nov-10	Nov-59		Nov-15		225,000		225,000
				7.00%		Mar-11	Mar-60		Mar-16		300,000		300,000
				5.88%		Nov-12	Dec-61		Dec-17		195,000		195,000
			Purchase contract at 6.0%			Oct-01	Oct-21				1,097		1,097
					Total Parent						837,347		837,347
	Subsidiaries:
		U.S. Cellular -
			Unsecured Senior Notes
				6.70%		December 2003 and June 2004	Dec-33		Dec-03		544,000		544,000
				Less: 6.7% Unamortized discount							-11,278		-11,551
											532,722		532,449
				6.95%		May-11	May-60		May-16		342,000		342,000
				7.25%		Dec-14	Dec-63		Dec-19		275,000		-
			Obligation on capital leases								2,143		3,749
		TDS Telecom -
			Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”) and other notes								699		749
			Obligation on capital leases								768		779
		Other -
			Long-term notes, 3.7% to 4.8%				Through 2016				3,686		4,612
			Obligation on capital leases								29		35
					Total Subsidiaries						1,157,047		884,373
	Total long-term debt									$	1,994,394	$	1,721,720
			Long-term debt, current							$	808	$	1,646
			Long-term debt, noncurrent							$	1,993,586	$	1,720,074

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Tables

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Amounts included in Accumulated other comprehensive income, before tax	December 31,	2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Net prior service costs	$	17,246		$	18,833
	Net actuarial loss		-8,436			-20,713
		$	8,810		$	-1,880
Funded status of post-retirement benefit plans	December 31,		2014			2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Change in benefit obligation
		Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	46,142		$	54,568
		Service cost		1,018			1,348
		Interest cost		2,255			2,137
		Plan amendments		-2,057			-
		Actuarial (gain) loss		-10,897			-9,437
		Prescription drug subsidy		264			-
		Employee contribution		2,216			2,230
		Benefits paid		-4,296			-4,704
		Benefit obligation at end of year		34,645			46,142
	Change in plan assets
		Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		49,743			45,047
		Actual return (loss) on plan assets		3,495			6,973
		Employee contribution		2,216			2,230
		Employer contribution		166			197
		Benefits paid		-4,296			-4,704
		Fair value of plan assets at end of year		51,324			49,743
	Funded status		$	16,679		$	3,601
Fair value of plan assets	31-Dec-14
	(Dollars in thousands)		Level 1			Level 2		Total
	Mutual funds
		Bond (1)	$	12,842		$	-	$	12,842
		International equity (2)		12,003			-		12,003
		Money market (3)		2,053			-		2,053
		US large cap (4)		20,191			-		20,191
		US small cap (5)		4,234			-		4,234
	Other			-			1		1
	Total plan assets at fair value		$	51,323		$	1	$	51,324
	31-Dec-13
	(Dollars in thousands)			Level 1			Level 2		Total
	Mutual funds
		Bond (1)	$	12,697		$	-	$	12,697
		International equity (2)		9,876			-		9,876
		Money market (3)		1,798			-		1,798
		US large cap (4)		20,861			-		20,861
		US small cap (5)		4,500			-		4,500
	Other			-			11		11
	Total plan assets at fair value		$	49,732		$	11	$	49,743
	Bond - The funds seek to achieve a maximum total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management by investing in a wide spectrum of fixed income instruments including bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by government and private-sector entities.
	International equity - The funds seek to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in the stocks of companies located outside the United States that are considered to have the potential for above-average capital appreciation.
	Money market - The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity by investing in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, dollar-denominated short-term debt securities.
	US large cap - The funds seek to track the performance of several benchmark indices that measure the investment return of large-capitalization stocks. The funds attempt to replicate the indices by investing substantially all of their assets in the stocks that make up the various indices in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the indices.
	US small cap - The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of small-capitalization stocks. The fund attempts to replicate the index by investing substantially all of its assets in the stocks that make up the index in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the index.
Plan asset investment allocation						Allocation of Plan Assets
						at December 31,
	Investment		Target Asset
	Category		Allocation			2014		2013
	U.S. equities		46	%		47.6	%	51	%
	International equities		24	%		23.4	%	19.9	%
	Debt securities		30	%		29	%	29.1	%
Net periodic benefit cost	Net periodic benefit cost recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations includes the following components:
	Year Ended December 31,		2014			2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Service cost		$	1,018		$	1,348	$	1,197
	Interest cost			2,255			2,137		2,297
	Expected return on plan assets			-3,402			-3,065		-2,995
	Amortization of prior service costs (1)			-3,644			-3,605		-3,735
	Amortization of actuarial losses (2)			1,287			2,452		2,517
	Net post-retirement cost (benefit)		$	-2,486		$	-733	$	-719
	-1	Based on straight-line amortization over the average time remaining before active employees become fully eligible for plan benefits.
	-2	Based on straight-line amortization over the average time remaining before active employees retire.
Assumptions used to calculate net periodic benefit cost	The following assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost:
	December 31,	2014			2013
	Benefit obligations
	Discount rate	4.2	%		5	%
	Net periodic benefit cost
	Discount rate	5	%		4	%
	Expected return on plan assets	7	%		7	%
Change in health care cost trend rate		One Percent
		Increase			Decrease
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Effect on total service and interest cost components	$	25		$	-23
	Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	$	423		$	-393
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments	Year
	(Dollars in thousands)
	2015	$	1,687
	2016		1,719
	2017		1,662
	2018		1,652
	2019		1,667
	2020-2024		9,442

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure
Lease commitments		Operating Leases Future Minimum Rental Payments*		Operating Leases Future Minimum Rental Receipts
	(Dollars in thousands)
	2015	$	155,476	$	54,463
	2016		139,346		43,918
	2017		119,384		34,619
	2018		102,014		24,095
	2019		86,580		12,038
	Thereafter		798,530		8,558
	Total	$	1,401,330	$	177,691
	*Includes $88.4 million of future lease payments associated with leases transferred in January 2015 per the second closing of the tower sale. See Note 6 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.

Variable_Interest_Entities_VIE

Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entities VIEs
Consolidated VIE assets and liabilities	December 31,			2014		2013
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
		Cash and cash equivalents		$	2,588	$	2,076
		Other current assets			278		1,184
		Licenses			312,977		310,475
		Property, plant and equipment, net			10,671		18,600
		Other assets and deferred charges			60,059		511
			Total assets	$	386,573	$	332,846
	Liabilities
		Current liabilities		$	110	$	46
		Deferred liabilities and credits			622		3,139
			Total liabilities	$	732	$	3,185

Noncontrolling_Interests_Table

Noncontrolling Interests (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Noncontrolling interests
Noncontrolling interests	Year Ended December 31,			2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders			$	-136,355	$	141,927	$	81,861
		Transfer (to) from the noncontrolling interests
			Change in TDS’ Capital in excess of par value from U.S. Cellular's issuance of U.S. Cellular shares		-12,420		-14,135		-8,854
			Change in TDS’ Capital in excess of par value from U.S. Cellular’s repurchase of U.S. Cellular shares		1,296		3,370		4,789
			Change in TDS’ Capital in excess of par value from common control transaction		7,484		-		-
			Purchase of ownership in subsidiaries from noncontrolling interests		-1,034		-123		4,397
			Net transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests		-4,674		-10,888		332
		Change from net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests		$	-141,029	$	131,039	$	82,193

Common_Shareholders_Equity_Tab

Common Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Common Share Repurchases
Schedule of common shares, rollforward	The following table summarizes the number of Common and Series A Common Shares issued and repurchased.
			Common Shares	Common Treasury Shares		Series A Common Shares
	(Shares in thousands)
	Balance December 31, 2011		125,502	24,165		7,119
		Repurchase of shares	-	868		-
		Conversion of Series A Common Shares	10	-		-10
		Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	-	-392		51
	Balance December 31, 2012		125,512	24,641		7,160
		Repurchase of shares	-	339		-
		Conversion of Series A Common Shares	33	-		-33
		Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	-	-1,026		39
	Balance December 31, 2013		125,545	23,954		7,166
		Repurchase of shares	-	1,542		-
		Conversion of Series A Common Shares	25	-		-25
		Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	-	-646		38
	Balance December 31, 2014		125,570	24,850		7,179
Share repurchases	Share repurchases made under these authorizations and prior authorizations, were as follows:
	Year Ended December 31,		Number of	Average Cost
	(Shares and dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)		Shares	Per Share			Amount
	2014
		U.S. Cellular Common Shares	496	$	38.19		$	18,943
		TDS Common Shares	1,542		25.36			39,096
	2013
		U.S. Cellular Common Shares	499	$	37.19		$	18,544
		TDS Common Shares	339		28.6			9,692
	2012
		U.S. Cellular Common Shares	571	$	35.11		$	20,045
		TDS Common Shares	868		23.08			20,026

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Stock option awards	$	15,802	$	12,973		$	20,884
	Restricted stock unit awards		17,968		15,535			19,025
	Deferred compensation bonus and matching stock unit awards		690		550			749
	Awards under Non-Employee Director compensation plan		1,333		1,280			1,213
	Total stock-based compensation, before income taxes		35,793		30,338			41,871
	Income tax benefit		-13,519		-11,459			-15,848
	Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes	$	22,274	$	18,879		$	26,023
Stock-based compensation, allocation by financial statement line item	December 31,		2014		2013			2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Selling, general and administrative expense	$	32,505	$	27,130		$	38,563
	Cost of services and products		3,288		3,208			3,308
	Total stock-based compensation	$	35,793	$	30,338		$	41,871
Stock-based compensation, fair value assumptions	TDS estimated the fair value of stock options granted in 2014, 2013 and 2012 using the Black Scholes valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below:
		2014		2013			2012
	Expected life	5.8 Years		5.7 Years			5.5 Years
	Expected annual volatility rate	39.6	%	41	%		41.1	%
	Dividend yield	2	%	2.3	%		2.4	%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.8	%	1	%		0.9	%
	Estimated annual forfeiture rate	2.9	%	2.9	%		2.9	%
	U.S. Cellular estimated the fair value of stock options granted during 2014, 2013, and 2012 using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the assumptions shown in the table below.
			2014	2013		2012
	Expected life		4.5 years	4.6-9.0 years		4.5 years
	Expected annual volatility rate		28.0%-28.1%	29.2%-39.6%		40.7%-42.6%
	Dividend yield		0%	0%		0%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.4%-1.5%	0.7%-2.4%		0.5%-0.9
	Estimated annual forfeiture rate		9.40%	0.0%-8.1%		0.0%-9.1%
Summary of stock options											Weighted
											Average
				Weighted			Weighted				Remaining
				Average			Average		Aggregate		Contractual
			Number of	Exercise			Grant Date		Intrinsic		Life
	Common Share Options		Options	Prices			Fair Value		Value		(in years)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2011		7,216,000	$	33.89
	(4,865,000 exercisable)				36.67
	Granted		1,702,000		20.79		$	6.28
	Exercised		-1,000		20.65				$	4,000
	Forfeited		-106,000		23.81
	Expired		-298,000		30.12
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012		8,513,000	$	31.53
	(5,782,000 exercisable)				35.12
	Granted		1,259,000		22.6		$	7.01
	Exercised		-683,000		25.33				$	2,450,000
	Forfeited		-81,000		23.75
	Expired		-228,000		34.1
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		8,780,000	$	30.74
	(6,160,000 exercisable)				34.13
	Granted		930,000		26.83		$	8.66
	Exercised		-40,000		21.28				$	174,000
	Forfeited		-73,000		23.05
	Expired		-457,000		34.55
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		9,140,000	$	30.25				$	9,651,000	5.6
	(6,487,000 exercisable)			$	32.93				$	4,143,000	4.5
											Weighted
											Average
				Weighted			Weighted				Remaining
				Average			Average		Aggregate		Contractual
			Number of	Exercise			Grant Date		Intrinsic		Life
	Common Share Options		Options	Price			Fair Value		Value		(in years)
	Outstanding at December 31, 2011		2,834,000	$	43.07
	(1,533,000 exercisable)				46.23
	Granted		677,000		34.91		$	12.61
	Exercised		-47,000		29.82				$	205,000
	Forfeited		-117,000		38.45
	Expired		-133,000		46.17
	Outstanding at December 31, 2012		3,214,000	$	41.58
	(1,928,000 exercisable)				43.99
	Granted		1,213,000		32.45		$	11.53
	Exercised		-892,000		34.78				$	6,787,000
	Forfeited		-574,000		34.17
	Expired		-247,000		48.35
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013		2,714,000	$	42.22
	(1,359,000 exercisable)				46.91
	Granted		1,116,000		41.21		$	10.68
	Exercised		-233,000		32.8				$	1,966,000
	Forfeited		-144,000		35.09
	Expired		-65,000		45.68
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		3,388,000	$	41.51				$	7,495,000	6.7
	(1,586,000 exercisable)			$	45.28				$	2,984,000	4.4
Summary of nonvested restricted stock units	A summary of TDS nonvested restricted stock units and changes during the year ended December 31, 2014 is presented in the table below:
	Common Restricted Stock Units		Number	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013		663,000	$	20.43
	Granted		355,000	$	25.26
	Vested		-300,000	$	19.68
	Forfeited		-26,000	$	21.31
	Nonvested at December 31, 2014		692,000	$	23.2
	A summary of U.S. Cellular nonvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2014 and changes during the year then ended is presented in the table below:
	Common Restricted Stock Units		Number	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013		1,170,000	$	36.46
	Granted		370,000		41.24
	Vested		-274,000		41.92
	Forfeited		-124,000		34.38
	Nonvested at December 31, 2014		1,142,000	$	35.6

Business_Segment_Tables

Business Segment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Segment Information
Business segment information						TDS Telecom
	Year Ended or as of December 31, 2014			U.S. Cellular		Wireline		Cable		HMS		TDS Telecom Eliminations		TDS Telecom Total		Corporate, Eliminations and Other		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating revenues
		Service		$	3,397,937	$	714,586	$	116,855	$	109,766	$	-3,697	$	937,510	$	-6,793	$	4,328,654
		Equipment and product sales			494,810		1,836		-		148,966		-		150,802		35,172		680,784
			Total operating revenues		3,892,747		716,422		116,855		258,732		-3,697		1,088,312		28,379		5,009,438
	Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense reported below)				769,911		256,878		54,265		77,392		-3,504		385,031		9,716		1,164,658
	Cost of equipment and products				1,192,669		2,336		-		126,362		-		128,698		25,444		1,346,811
	Selling, general and administrative				1,591,914		189,956		36,175		53,020		-193		278,958		-5,065		1,865,807
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				605,997		169,044		23,643		26,912		-		219,599		10,936		836,532
	Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		84,000		-		84,000		3,802		87,802
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net				21,469		2,091		2,482		181		-		4,754		308		26,531
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-32,830		-2,357		-		-		-		-2,357		19,341		-15,846
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-112,993		-		-		-		-		-		-		-112,993
	Operating income (loss)				-143,390		98,474		290		-109,135		-		-10,371		-36,103		-189,864
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities				129,764		8		-		-		-		8		2,193		131,965
	Interest and dividend income				12,148		2,396		8		26		-		2,430		2,379		16,957
	Interest expense				-57,386		2,695		95		-1,602		-		1,188		-55,199		-111,397
	Other, net				160		-32		-1		12		-		-21		-24		115
	Income (loss) before income taxes				-58,704		103,541		392		-110,699		-		-6,766		-86,754		-152,224
	Add back:
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				605,997		169,044		23,643		26,912		-		219,599		10,936		836,532
	Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		84,000		-		84,000		3,802		87,802
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-32,830		-2,357		-		-		-		-2,357		19,341		-15,846
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-112,993		-		-		-		-		-		-		-112,993
	Interest expense				57,386		-2,695		-95		1,602		-		-1,188		55,199		111,397
	Adjusted income before income taxes			$	458,856	$	267,533	$	23,940	$	1,815	$	-	$	293,288	$	2,524	$	754,668
	Investments in unconsolidated entities			$	283,014	$	3,803	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	3,803	$	34,912	$	321,729
	Total assets			$	6,487,268	$	1,419,478	$	563,585	$	268,972	$	-	$	2,252,035	$	167,636	$	8,906,939
	Capital expenditures			$	557,615	$	135,805	$	35,640	$	36,618	$	-	$	208,063	$	4,899	$	770,577
						TDS Telecom
	Year Ended or as of December 31, 2013			U.S. Cellular		Wireline		Cable		HMS		TDS Telecom Eliminations		TDS Telecom Total		Corporate, Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items		Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating revenues
		Service		$	3,594,773	$	723,372	$	35,883	$	94,875	$	-1,063	$	853,067	$	-4,349	$	4,443,491
		Equipment and product sales			324,063		3,195		-		90,741		-		93,936		39,746		457,745
			Total operating revenues		3,918,836		726,567		35,883		185,616		-1,063		947,003		35,397		4,901,236
	Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)				763,435		266,635		17,274		60,423		-1,000		343,332		11,416		1,118,183
	Cost of equipment and products				999,000		3,831		-		75,991		-		79,822		28,311		1,107,133
	Selling, general and administrative				1,677,395		220,097		11,054		44,945		-63		276,033		-5,650		1,947,778
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				803,781		170,868		7,571		24,262		-		202,701		11,595		1,018,077
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net				30,606		130		28		125		-		283		-48		30,841
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-246,767		-		-		-		-		-		-53,889		-300,656
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-255,479		-		-		-		-		-		-		-255,479
	Operating income (loss)				146,865		65,006		-44		-20,130		-		44,832		43,662		235,359
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities				131,949		19		-		-		-		19		746		132,714
	Interest and dividend income				3,961		1,759		2		63		-		1,824		3,307		9,092
	Gain (loss) on investments				18,556		830		-		-		-		830		-4,839		14,547
	Interest expense				-43,963		3,265		-74		-1,626		-		1,565		-56,413		-98,811
	Other, net				288		-214		-		29		-		-185		-140		-37
	Income (loss) before income taxes				257,656		70,665		-116		-21,664		-		48,885		-13,677		292,864
	Add back:
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion				803,781		170,868		7,571		24,262		-		202,701		11,595		1,018,077
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				-246,767		-		-		-		-		-		-53,889		-300,656
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-255,479		-		-		-		-		-		-		-255,479
	Gain (loss) on investments				-18,556		-830		-		-		-		-830		4,839		-14,547
	Interest expense				43,963		-3,265		74		1,626		-		-1,565		56,413		98,811
	Adjusted income before income taxes			$	584,598	$	237,438	$	7,529	$	4,224	$	-	$	249,191	$	5,281	$	839,070
	Investments in unconsolidated entities			$	265,585	$	3,809	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	3,809	$	32,378	$	301,772
	Total assets			$	6,445,708	$	1,452,502	$	278,969	$	328,397	$	-	$	2,059,868	$	398,571	$	8,904,147
	Capital expenditures			$	737,501	$	140,009	$	8,375	$	16,474	$	-	$	164,858	$	7,301	$	909,660
						TDS Telecom
	Year Ended or as of December 31, 2012			U.S. Cellular		Wireline		HMS		TDS Telecom Eliminations		TDS Telecom Total		Corporate, Eliminations and Other Reconciling Items		Total
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
	Service		$	4,098,856	$	738,216	$	77,096	$	-252	$	815,060	$	38,687	$	4,952,603
	Equipment and product sales			353,228		3,532		35,914		-		39,446		-		392,674
		Total operating revenues		4,452,084		741,748		113,010		-252		854,506		38,687		5,345,277
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)				946,805		270,333		46,836		-252		316,917		10,903		1,274,625
Cost of equipment and products				935,947		3,732		28,945		-		32,677		29,321		997,945
Selling, general and administrative				1,764,933		235,716		34,193		-		269,909		-941		2,033,901
Depreciation, amortization and accretion				608,633		172,526		20,568		-		193,094		11,899		813,626
Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		-		-		515		515
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net				18,088		1,020		108		-		1,128		525		19,741
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				21,022		39		-		-		39		-		21,061
Operating income (loss)				156,656		58,382		-17,640		-		40,742		-13,535		183,863
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities				90,364		10		-		-		10		2,493		92,867
Interest and dividend income				3,644		3,085		25		-		3,110		2,494		9,248
Gain (loss) on investments				-3,718		-		-		-		-		-		-3,718
Interest expense				-42,393		2,674		-1,160		-		1,514		-45,866		-86,745
Other, net				500		-353		-1		-		-354		574		720
Income (loss) before income taxes				205,053		63,798		-18,776		-		45,022		-53,840		196,235
Add back:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion				608,633		172,526		20,568		-		193,094		11,899		813,626
Loss on impairment of assets				-		-		-		-		-		515		515
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net				21,022		39		-		-		39		-		21,061
Gain (loss) on investments				3,718		-		-		-		-		-		3,718
Interest expense				42,393		-2,674		1,160		-		-1,514		45,866		86,745
Adjusted income before income taxes			$	880,819	$	233,689	$	2,952	$	-	$	236,641	$	4,440	$	1,121,900
Investments in unconsolidated entities			$	144,531	$	3,809	$	-	$	-	$	3,809	$	31,581	$	179,921
Total assets			$	6,587,450	$	1,519,698	$	267,798	$	-	$	1,787,496	$	248,954	$	8,623,900
Capital expenditures			$	836,748	$	158,580	$	15,344	$	-	$	173,924	$	-6,051	$	1,004,621

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Disclos1

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Supplemental cash flow disclosures	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Interest paid	$	108,510	$	96,241	$	88,208
	Income taxes paid (refunded)		48,876		175,629		-62,042
	TDS:
	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Common Shares withheld		109,061		265,748		49,840
	Special Common Shares withheld		-		-		1,381
	Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$	2,751	$	7,639	$	1,102
	Aggregate value of Special Common Shares withheld	$	-	$	-	$	33
	Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options		732		12,092		16
	Cash disbursements for payment of taxes		-2,751		-2,438		-1,135
	Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	$	-2,019	$	9,654	$	-1,119
	U.S. Cellular:
	Year Ended December 31,	2014		2013		2012
	(Dollars in thousands)
	Common Shares withheld		163,355		606,582		92,846
	Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$	6,868	$	25,179	$	3,604
	Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options		5,166		10,468		900
	Cash disbursements for payment of taxes		-4,336		-4,684		-3,105
	Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	$	830	$	5,784	$	-2,205

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
	number
Basis of Presentation
Number of wireless customers	4,800,000
Wireline and Cable connections	1,200,000
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities	$113,500,000		$131,000,000		$152,400,000
Advertising costs	228,500,000		212,800,000		240,900,000
Accumulated amortization of deferred charges	58,100,000		41,400,000
Federal Communications Commission deposit	60,000,000
Long-term
Accounts receivable
Unbilled allowance for credit losses	6,065,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Accounts receivable
Allowance for doubtful accounts, beginning balance	65,604,000	[1]	33,415,000	[1]	31,071,000
Additions, net of recoveries	107,861,000		105,629,000		74,695,000
Deductions	-124,828,000		-73,440,000		-72,351,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts, ending balance	48,637,000	[1]	65,604,000	[1]	33,415,000	[1]
U.S. Cellular
Basis of Presentation
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular	84.00%
Agent liability	95,300,000		121,300,000
U.S. Cellular | Loyalty Rewards Program
Basis of Presentation
Deferred revenue	94,600,000		116,200,000
U.S. Cellular | Loyalty Rewards Program | Special issuance
Basis of Presentation
Deferred revenue			$43,500,000
[1]	In 2014, this balance includes a $6.1 million allowance related to the long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment receivables.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	471,901	830,014	$740,481	$563,275
Short-term investments		50,104
Fair Value | Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	471,901	830,014
Fair Value | Level 2 | Retail
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	1,414,105	1,048,010
Fair Value | Level 2 | Institutional and Other
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	518,322	512,635
Fair Value | U.S. Treasury Notes | Level 1
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Short-term investments		50,104
Book Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	471,901	830,014
Book Value | Retail
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	1,453,250	1,178,250
Book Value | Institutional and Other
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Long-term debt	537,471	537,454
Book Value | U.S. Treasury Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Short-term investments		50,104
Institutional and Other | Minimum
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Fair value assumption, interest rate	0.00%	0.00%
Institutional and Other | Maximum
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Fair value assumption, interest rate	7.25%	7.35%

Equipment_Installment_Plans_De

Equipment Installment Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Equipment installment plan receivables
Equipment installment plan payment period	24 months
Guarantee liability	$57,500,000
Short-term
Equipment installment plan receivables
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	127,400,000	611,000
Unbilled deferred interest	-16,365,000
Unbilled allowance for credit losses	-3,686,000	-20,000
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	107,349,000	591,000
Long-term
Equipment installment plan receivables
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	89,435,000
Unbilled deferred interest	-2,791,000
Unbilled allowance for credit losses	-6,065,000
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$80,579,000

Income_Taxes_Balances_Details

Income Taxes, Balances (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Tax Disclosure
Income taxes receivable	$113,708	$2,397
Federal
Income Tax Disclosure
Income taxes receivable	108,820
Income taxes (payable)		20,288
State
Income Tax Disclosure
Income taxes receivable	$4,391	$2,397

Income_Taxes_Expense_Benefit_D

Income Taxes, Expense (Benefit) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income tax expense (benefit)
Current federal income tax expense (benefit)	($87,736)	$181,579	$9,705
Current state income tax expense	11,091	11,614	5,092
Deferred federal income tax expense (benefit)	41,851	-65,970	61,113
Federal - valuation allowance adjustment	-10,816
Deferred state income tax expense (benefit)	2,208	-1,180	-2,328
State - valuation allowance adjustment	38,470
Total income tax expense	($4,932)	$126,043	$73,582

Income_Taxes_Expense_Reconcili

Income Taxes, Expense Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Income tax expense reconciliation
Statutory federal income tax expense	($53,300,000)	[1]	$102,500,000	[1]	$68,700,000	[1]
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	42,800,000		10,500,000		8,400,000
Effect of noncontrolling interests	-5,800,000		-1,000,000
Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets			14,900,000	[2]
Correction of deferred taxes					-6,100,000	[3]
Change in federal valuation allowance	-8,700,000	[4]
Goodwill impairment	18,300,000	[5]
Other differences, net	1,800,000		-900,000		2,600,000
Total income tax expense	($4,932,000)		$126,043,000		$73,582,000
[1]	State income taxes, net of federal benefit, include changes in unrecognized tax benefits as well as adjustments to the valuation allowance. During the third quarter of 2014 TDS recorded a $38.5 million increase to income tax expense related to a valuation allowance recorded against certain state deferred tax assets. In each interim period, TDS evaluates the available positive and negative evidence to assess whether deferred tax assets are realizable, on a more likely than not basis. During the year ended December 31, 2014, based on revised forecasts of future state income, TDS concluded that the negative evidence related to the realization of certain state deferred tax assets outweighed the positive evidence. Accordingly, TDS determined that such deferred tax assets related to certain states were not realizable, on a more likely than not basis.
[2]	Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets represents 2013 tax expense related to the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation and the Divestiture Transaction.
[3]	Correction of deferred taxes reflects immaterial adjustments to correct deferred tax balances in 2012 related to tax basis and law changes that related to periods prior to 2012.
[4]	Change in federal valuation allowance relates primarily to a decrease to income tax expense in the third quarter of 2014 due to a valuation allowance reduction for federal net operating losses previously limited under loss utilization rules. Due to the shutdown of Airadigmbs consumer wireless business and resulting intercompany sale of certain assets by Airadigm to U.S. Cellular during the year (as described in Note 6 b Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges), Airadigm is expected to recognize sufficient taxable income for TDS to utilize the previously limited net operating losses.
[5]	Goodwill impairment reflects an adjustment to increase income tax expense by $18.3 million related to a portion of the goodwill impairment of Suttle-Straus and the HMS reporting unit recorded in 2014 which is nondeductible for income tax purposes. See Note 7 b Intangible Assets for additional information related to the goodwill impairment.

Income_Taxes_Rate_Reconciliati

Income Taxes, Rate Reconciliation (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Income tax rate reconciliation
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.00%		35.00%		35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	-28.10%	[1]	3.60%	[1]	4.20%	[1]
Effect of noncontrolling interests	3.80%		-0.40%
Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets			5.10%	[2]
Correction of deferred taxes					-3.10%	[3]
Change in federal valuation allowance	5.70%	[4]
Goodwill impairment	-12.00%	[5]
Other differences, net	-1.20%		-0.30%		1.40%
Total income tax rate	3.20%		43.00%		37.50%
[1]	State income taxes, net of federal benefit, include changes in unrecognized tax benefits as well as adjustments to the valuation allowance. During the third quarter of 2014 TDS recorded a $38.5 million increase to income tax expense related to a valuation allowance recorded against certain state deferred tax assets. In each interim period, TDS evaluates the available positive and negative evidence to assess whether deferred tax assets are realizable, on a more likely than not basis. During the year ended December 31, 2014, based on revised forecasts of future state income, TDS concluded that the negative evidence related to the realization of certain state deferred tax assets outweighed the positive evidence. Accordingly, TDS determined that such deferred tax assets related to certain states were not realizable, on a more likely than not basis.
[2]	Gains (losses) on investments and sale of assets represents 2013 tax expense related to the NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation and the Divestiture Transaction.
[3]	Correction of deferred taxes reflects immaterial adjustments to correct deferred tax balances in 2012 related to tax basis and law changes that related to periods prior to 2012.
[4]	Change in federal valuation allowance relates primarily to a decrease to income tax expense in the third quarter of 2014 due to a valuation allowance reduction for federal net operating losses previously limited under loss utilization rules. Due to the shutdown of Airadigmbs consumer wireless business and resulting intercompany sale of certain assets by Airadigm to U.S. Cellular during the year (as described in Note 6 b Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges), Airadigm is expected to recognize sufficient taxable income for TDS to utilize the previously limited net operating losses.
[5]	Goodwill impairment reflects an adjustment to increase income tax expense by $18.3 million related to a portion of the goodwill impairment of Suttle-Straus and the HMS reporting unit recorded in 2014 which is nondeductible for income tax purposes. See Note 7 b Intangible Assets for additional information related to the goodwill impairment.

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Def

Income Taxes, Components of Deferred Income Tax (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred income tax assets
Current deferred tax assets	$113,402	$114,532
Net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards	135,676	121,651
Stock-based compensation	54,789	50,563
Compensation and benefits - other	11,014	12,681
Deferred rent	19,604	20,500
Other	35,523	32,444
Total deferred tax assets	370,008	352,371
Less valuation allowance	-113,553	-79,064
Net deferred tax assets	256,455	273,307
Deferred income tax liabilities
Property, plant and equipment	667,540	637,090
Licenses/intangibles	259,865	251,578
Partnership investments	151,123	136,581
Other	9,724	4,956
Total deferred tax liabilities	1,088,252	1,030,205
Net deferred income tax liability	$831,797	$756,898

Income_Taxes_Net_Operating_Los

Income Taxes, Net Operating Losses (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
State
Income Tax Disclosure
NOL carryforwards	2,315.30
Deferred income tax asset for State NOL carryforwards	111.3
State | Minimum
Income Tax Disclosure
Expiration of NOL carryforwards	31-Dec-15
State | Maximum
Income Tax Disclosure
Expiration of NOL carryforwards	31-Dec-34
Federal
Income Tax Disclosure
Deferred income tax asset for Federal NOL carryforwards (entities not on Federal return)	24.3
Federal | Minimum
Income Tax Disclosure
Expiration of NOL carryforwards	31-Dec-18
Federal | Maximum
Income Tax Disclosure
Expiration of NOL carryforwards	31-Dec-34

Income_Taxes_Deferred_Tax_Valu

Income Taxes, Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred tax valuation allowance, rollfoward
Balance at end of period	$113,553,000	$79,064,000
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance, current	5,700,000
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance, noncurrent	107,800,000
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
Deferred tax valuation allowance, rollfoward
Balance at beginning of period	79,064,000	70,502,000	49,686,000
Charged to income tax expense	34,489,000	1,954,000	5,268,000
Charged to other accounts		6,608,000	15,548,000
Balance at end of period	$113,553,000	$79,064,000	$70,502,000

Income_Taxes_Unrecognized_Tax_

Income Taxes, Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of unrecognized income tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning balance	$30,390,000	$28,420,000	$28,841,000
Additions for tax positions of current year	7,610,000	6,388,000	7,027,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years	883,000	1,858,000	1,673,000
Reduction for tax positions of prior years	-399,000	-467,000	-7,000
Reductions for settlements of tax positions	-312,000	-1,337,000	-21,000
Reductions for lapses in statutes of limitations	-356,000	-4,472,000	-9,093,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance	37,816,000	30,390,000	28,420,000
Effect of unrecognized tax benefit on income tax expense	$24,600,000	$19,800,000	$18,600,000

Income_Taxes_Additional_Disclo

Income Taxes, Additional Disclosures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure
Range of potential change in unrecognized tax benefits due to state income tax positions and their resolution and expiration of statutes of limitations within the next year	$10
Net accrued interest and penalties, total	16.2	12.4
Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits	$3.40	$0.70	($1.50)
Federal
Income Tax Disclosure
Open tax years	2012
State
Income Tax Disclosure
Open tax years	2010

Earnings_Per_Share_Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders of TDS used in basic earnings (loss) per share	($136,404,000)	$141,878,000		$81,811,000
Adjustments to compute diluted earnings
Noncontrolling interest adjustment		-1,058,000		-640,000
Preferred dividend adjustment		49,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders of TDS used in diluted earnings (loss) per share	-136,404,000	140,869,000		81,171,000
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share	108,485	108,490		108,671
Effects of dilutive securities:
Stock options		209	[1]	11	[1]
Restricted stock units		375	[1]	255	[1]
Preferred shares		58	[1]
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per share	108,485	109,132		108,937
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders	($1.26)	$1.31		$0.75
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS shareholders	($1.26)	$1.29		$0.75
U.S. Cellular
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Dividend payable date		25-Jun-13
Dividend date of record		11-Jun-13
Series A Common and Common Shares, dividends per share paid		$5.75
Series A Common and Common Shares, dividends paid		$482,300,000
Stock Options
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Antidilutive shares	8,984	7,120		8,130
Restricted Stock Units
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Antidilutive shares	839	171		154
Preferred Shares
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Antidilutive shares	56			57
Common Shares
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share	101,304	101,339		101,532
Series A Common Shares
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share	7,181	7,151		7,139
[1]	There were no effects of dilutive securities for the year ended December 31, 2014 due to the net loss for the year.

Acquisitions_Divestitures_and_1

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, acquisitions (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Aug. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Oct. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Aug. 31, 2012

Nov. 30, 2012

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Goodwill

$771,352

$836,843

$797,194

[1]

Licenses

1,453,574

1,423,779

Franchise rights

244,300

123,668

Acquisitions

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Purchase price

315,496

[2]

324,166

[2]

Goodwill

33,610

[3]

76,915

[3]

Licenses

44,410

16,540

Franchise rights

120,979

123,668

Intangible assets subject to amortization

14,056

[4]

28,725

[4]

Net tangible assets (liabilities)

102,441

78,318

U.S. Cellular

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Goodwill

227,406

232,041

269,307

[1]

U.S. Cellular | License Acquisitions

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Purchase price

41,707

[2]

16,540

[2]

Licenses

41,707

16,540

U.S. Cellular | License Acquisitions | 700 Mhz Acquisition 1

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Description of acquired entity

In August 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired four 700 MHz licenses covering portions of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma for $34.0 million.

Licenses

34,000

U.S. Cellular | License Acquisitions | 700 Mhz Acquisition 2

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Description of acquired entity

In November 2012, U.S. Cellular acquired seven 700 MHz licenses covering portions of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin for $57.7 million.

Licenses

57,700

TDS Telecom Wireline

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Goodwill

413,794

[5]

420,458

[5]

420,458

[1],[5]

TDS Telecom Cable

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Goodwill

95,322

61,712

TDS Telecom Cable | Business Acquisitions

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Weighted average useful life, acquired finite lived intangibles

4 years 7 months

2 years 11 months

Purchase price

273,789

[2]

264,069

[2]

Goodwill

33,610

[3]

61,712

[3]

Licenses

2,703

Franchise rights

120,979

123,668

Intangible assets subject to amortization

14,056

[4]

11,542

[4]

Net tangible assets (liabilities)

102,441

67,147

TDS Telecom Cable | Business Acquisitions | Baja Broadband, LLC

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Description of acquired entity

In August 2013, TDS Telecom acquired substantially all of the assets of Baja for $264.1 million in cash. Baja is a cable company that operates in markets primarily in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah and offers broadband, video and voice services, which complement the TDS Telecom portfolio of products. Baja is included in the Cable segment for reporting purposes.

Purchase price

264,100

TDS Telecom Cable | Business Acquisitions | BendBroadband

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Description of acquired entity

In September 2014, TDS acquired substantially all of the assets of a group of companies operating as BendBroadband (“Bend”), headquartered in Bend, Oregon for $260.7 million in cash. Bend is a full-service communications company, offering an extensive range of broadband, fiber connectivity, cable television and telephone services for commercial and residential customers in Central Oregon. As part of the agreement, TDS also acquired a Tier III data center providing colocation and managed services and a cable advertising and broadcast business. Bend service offerings complement the current portfolio of products offered through TDS Telecom businesses. Goodwill was recorded due primarily to the expectation of future growth and synergies in Cable segment operations. The operations of the data center are included in the HMS segment. The operations of the cable and the advertising and broadcast businesses are included in the Cable segment.

Purchase price

260,700

TDS Telecom HMS

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Goodwill

34,830

118,830

103,627

[1]

TDS Telecom HMS | Business Acquisitions

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Weighted average useful life, acquired finite lived intangibles

10 years

Purchase price

43,557

[2]

Goodwill

15,203

[3]

Intangible assets subject to amortization

17,183

[4]

Net tangible assets (liabilities)

11,171

TDS Telecom HMS | Business Acquisitions | MSN Communications, Inc.

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Voting stock acquired

100.00%

Description of acquired entity

In October 2013, TDS acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of MSN Communications, Inc. (“MSN”) for $43.6 million in cash. MSN is an information technology solutions provider whose service offerings complement the HMS portfolio of products. MSN is included in the HMS segment for reporting purposes.

Purchase price

43,600

TDS Telecom HMS | Business Acquisitions | Vital Support Systems, LLC

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Voting stock acquired

100.00%

Description of acquired entity

In June 2012, TDS paid $46.1 million in cash to purchase 100% of the outstanding shares of Vital Support Systems, LLC (“Vital”). Vital is an information technology solutions provider whose service offerings complement the HMS portfolio of products. Vital is included in the HMS segment for reporting purposes.

Purchase price

46,100

Other

Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges

Goodwill

$3,802

[6]

$3,802

[1],[6]

[1]

Includes accumulated impairment losses in prior periods as follows: $333.9 million for U.S. Cellular, $29.4 million for Wireline and $0.5 million for Other.

[2]

Cash amounts paid for acquisitions may differ from the purchase price due to cash acquired in the transactions and the timing of cash payments related to the respective transactions.

[3]

The entire amount of Goodwill acquired in 2014 and 2013 was amortizable for income tax purposes.

[4]

At the date of acquisition, the weighted average amortization period for Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization acquired was as follows: 2014: 4.6 years for TDS Telecom cable business; 2013: 2.9 years for TDS Telecom cable business and 10 years for TDS HMS business

[5]

In July 2014, TDS Telecom sold certain Wireline markets.

[6]

TDS performed its annual impairment review of Goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the results of this review, TDS concluded that the entire amount of Goodwill related to Suttle-Straus was impaired, which resulted in a $3.8 million loss on impairment.

Acquisitions_Divestitures_and_2

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, divestitures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	26 Months Ended		1 Months Ended						38 Months Ended	36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 10, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
													number
Divestitures
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income	$189,864,000		($235,359,000)		($183,863,000)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993,000		-255,479,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures	-187,645,000		-811,120,000		-50,182,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-15,846,000		-300,656,000		21,061,000
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values	836,532,000		1,018,077,000		813,626,000
Assets held for sale
Current assets	1,687,000						1,687,000						1,687,000
Other assets and deferred charges	775,000						775,000						775,000
Licenses	56,809,000						56,809,000						56,809,000
Goodwill	8,444,000						8,444,000						8,444,000
Property, plant and equipment	35,628,000						35,628,000						35,628,000
Total assets held for sale	103,343,000		16,027,000				103,343,000						103,343,000
Liabilities held for sale
Current liabilities	3,825,000						3,825,000						3,825,000
Other deferred liabilities and credits	17,818,000						17,818,000						17,818,000
Total liabilities held for sale	21,643,000						21,643,000						21,643,000
Non-operating Market Licenses
Assets held for sale
Licenses	56,809,000		16,027,000				56,809,000						56,809,000
Total assets held for sale	56,809,000						56,809,000						56,809,000
Airadigm Communications, Inc.
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	On May 23, 2014 (the “Signing Date”), U.S. Cellular entered into a License Purchase and Customer Recommendation Agreement with Airadigm. Pursuant to the License Purchase and Customer Recommendation Agreement, on September 10, 2014, Airadigm transferred to U.S. Cellular Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) spectrum licenses and certain tower assets in certain markets in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan, in consideration for $91.5 million in cash. Since both parties to this transaction are controlled by TDS, upon closing, U.S. Cellular recorded the transferred assets at Airadigm’s net book value. The transaction also impacts the expected realization of Airadigm’s federal net operating loss carryforwards and therefore TDS reduced its valuation allowance by $10.8 million upon the transaction closing and recognized an income tax benefit for this same amount. See Note 4 — Income Taxes.
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance						-10,800,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures						-91,500,000
Charges for the impairment and decomissioning of various operating assets	8,467,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement	676,000
Contract termination costs	11,099,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	20,242,000
Wireline Markets
Assets held for sale
Current assets	215,000	[1]					215,000	[1]					215,000	[1]
Other assets and deferred charges	2,000	[1]					2,000	[1]					2,000	[1]
Goodwill	4,100,000	[1]					4,100,000	[1]					4,100,000	[1]
Property, plant and equipment	3,858,000	[1]					3,858,000	[1]					3,858,000	[1]
Total assets held for sale	8,175,000	[1]					8,175,000	[1]					8,175,000	[1]
Liabilities held for sale
Current liabilities	218,000						218,000						218,000
Other deferred liabilities and credits	177,000						177,000						177,000
Total liabilities held for sale	395,000						395,000						395,000
Tower sale - second closing
Assets held for sale
Current assets	1,472,000						1,472,000						1,472,000
Other assets and deferred charges	773,000						773,000						773,000
Goodwill	4,344,000						4,344,000						4,344,000
Property, plant and equipment	31,770,000						31,770,000						31,770,000
Total assets held for sale	38,359,000						38,359,000						38,359,000
Liabilities held for sale
Current liabilities	3,607,000						3,607,000						3,607,000
Other deferred liabilities and credits	17,641,000						17,641,000						17,641,000
Total liabilities held for sale	21,248,000						21,248,000						21,248,000
Minimum | Airadigm Communications, Inc.
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Charges for the impairment and decomissioning of various operating assets	8,000,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement	500,000
Contract termination costs	10,000,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	18,500,000
Maximum | Airadigm Communications, Inc.
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Charges for the impairment and decomissioning of various operating assets	12,000,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement	1,500,000
Contract termination costs	15,000,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	28,500,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement | Airadigm Communications, Inc.
Balance Sheet rollforward
Costs incurred	676,000
Cash settlements	-523,000	[2]
Balance, end of period	153,000						153,000						153,000
Contract termination costs | Other current liabilities | Airadigm Communications, Inc.
Balance Sheet rollforward
Costs incurred	7,475,000
Cash settlements	-4,291,000	[2]
Adjustments	1,043,000	[3]
Balance, end of period	4,227,000						4,227,000						4,227,000
Contract termination costs | Other deferred liabilities and credits | Airadigm Communications, Inc.
Balance Sheet rollforward
Costs incurred	3,975,000
Adjustments	-1,396,000	[3]
Balance, end of period	2,579,000						2,579,000						2,579,000
U.S. Cellular
Divestitures
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income	143,390,000		-146,865,000		-156,656,000
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993,000		-255,479,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-32,830,000		-246,767,000		21,022,000
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values	605,997,000		803,781,000		608,633,000
U.S. Cellular | Divestiture Transaction
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	On November 6, 2012, U.S. Cellular entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with subsidiaries of Sprint Corp., fka Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Sprint”). Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, on May 16, 2013, U.S. Cellular transferred customers and certain PCS license spectrum to Sprint in U.S. Cellular’s Chicago, central Illinois, St. Louis and certain Indiana/Michigan/Ohio markets (“Divestiture Markets”) in consideration for $480 million in cash. The Purchase and Sale Agreement also contemplated certain other agreements, together with the Purchase and Sale Agreement collectively referred to as the “Divestiture Transaction.” These other agreements included customer and network transition services agreements, which required U.S. Cellular to provide customer, billing and network services to Sprint for a period of up to 24 months after the May 16, 2013 closing date. Sprint reimbursed U.S. Cellular for providing such services at an amount equal to U.S. Cellular’s estimated costs, including applicable overhead allocations. These services were substantially complete as of March 31, 2014. In addition, these agreements require Sprint to reimburse U.S. Cellular up to $200 million (the “Sprint Cost Reimbursement”) for certain network decommissioning costs, network site lease rent and termination costs, network access termination costs, and employee termination benefits for specified engineering employees.
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income	-12,776,000		-123,446,000		44,535,000		-91,687,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Net assets transferred			160,073,000				160,073,000
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets	9,735,000		3,000		10,672,000		20,410,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement	-115,000		1,653,000		12,609,000		14,147,000
Contract termination costs	24,736,000		59,525,000		59,000		84,320,000
Transaction costs	719,000		4,428,000		1,137,000		6,284,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-29,254,000		-301,959,000		24,477,000		-306,736,000
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values	16,478,000		178,513,000		20,058,000		215,049,000
U.S. Cellular | Wireless Market
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	In March 2012, U.S. Cellular sold the majority of the assets and liabilities of a wireless market for $49.8 million in cash. At the time of the sale, a $4.2 million gain was recorded in (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures									-49,800,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net									-4,200,000
U.S. Cellular | Mississippi Valley
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	In October 2013, U.S. Cellular sold the majority of its Mississippi Valley non-operating market license (“unbuilt license”) for $308.0 million. At the time of the sale, a $250.6 million gain was recorded in (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges										-250,600,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures										-308,000,000
U.S. Cellular | St. Louis
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	In March 2014, U.S. Cellular sold the majority of its St. Louis area non-operating market spectrum license for $92.3 million. A gain of $75.8 million was recorded in (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of 2014.
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges											-75,800,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures											-92,300,000
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale
Divestitures
Number Of Towers	595						595						595
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale | Divestiture
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures												-159,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale - first closing
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	In December 2014, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to sell 595 towers and certain related contracts, assets, and liabilities for approximately $159 million. This transaction was accomplished in two closings. The first closing occurred in December 2014 and included the sale of 236 towers, without tenants, for $10.0 million. On this same date, U.S. Cellular received $7.5 million in earnest money. At the time of the first closing, a $4.7 million gain was recorded in (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net.
Number Of Towers	236						236						236
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures													-10,000,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net													-4,700,000
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale - second closing
Divestitures
Business divestiture description	The second closing for the remaining 359 towers, primarily with tenants, took place in January 2015, at which time U.S. Cellular received $141.5 million in additional cash proceeds and recorded a gain of approximately $119 million. The assets and liabilities subject to the second closing have been classified as “held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014.
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale - second closing | Divestiture
Divestitures
Number Of Towers												359
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures												-141,500,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net												-119,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Asset retirement obligation remediation | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values	3,400,000
U.S. Cellular | Minimum | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Net assets transferred			160,073,000
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values							215,049,000
U.S. Cellular | Minimum | Expected event | Divestiture Transaction
Divestitures
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income															-116,878,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets															20,000,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement															13,000,000
Contract termination costs															70,000,000
Transaction costs															5,000,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net															-331,927,000
U.S. Cellular | Maximum | Divestiture Transaction
Divestitures
Transition services agreement duration	24 months
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Net assets transferred			160,073,000
Incremental depreciation, amortization and accretion, net of salvage values							215,049,000
U.S. Cellular | Maximum | Expected event | Divestiture Transaction
Divestitures
(Increase) decrease in Operating Income															-134,878,000
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Non-cash charges for the write-off and write-down of property under construction and related assets															22,000,000
Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement															16,000,000
Contract termination costs															100,000,000
Transaction costs															7,000,000
Total (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net															-349,927,000
U.S. Cellular | Purchase price | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures			-480,000,000				-480,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Purchase price | Minimum | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures			-480,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Purchase price | Maximum | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures			-480,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | Maximum | Expected event | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures																-200,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | Cash received from divestitures | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures	-71,100,000		-10,600,000
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures	-64,329,000		-47,641,000				-111,970,000
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net | Minimum | Expected event | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures																-120,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | (Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net | Maximum | Expected event | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures																-175,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | Cost of services | Maximum | Expected event | Divestiture Transaction
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures																-25,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Employee related costs including severance, retention and outplacement | Divestiture Transaction
Balance Sheet rollforward
Balance, beginning of period	2,053,000		12,305,000													12,305,000
Costs incurred	127,000		6,853,000
Cash settlements	-1,223,000	[2]	-11,905,000	[2]
Adjustments	-242,000	[3]	-5,200,000	[3]
Balance, end of period	715,000		2,053,000				715,000						715,000
U.S. Cellular | Contract termination costs | Other current liabilities | Divestiture Transaction
Balance Sheet rollforward
Balance, beginning of period	13,992,000		30,000													30,000
Costs incurred	12,703,000		22,675,000
Cash settlements	-22,210,000	[2]	-8,713,000	[2]
Adjustments	3,747,000	[3]
Balance, end of period	8,232,000		13,992,000				8,232,000						8,232,000
U.S. Cellular | Contract termination costs | Other deferred liabilities and credits | Divestiture Transaction
Balance Sheet rollforward
Balance, beginning of period	30,849,000
Costs incurred	24,171,000		34,283,000
Cash settlements	-3,569,000	[2]	-3,434,000	[2]
Adjustments	-30,411,000	[3]
Balance, end of period	21,040,000		30,849,000				21,040,000						21,040,000
U.S. Cellular | Contract termination costs | Accounts payable | Divestiture Transaction
Balance Sheet rollforward
Costs incurred	4,018,000
Adjustments	-1,190,000	[3]
Balance, end of period	2,828,000						2,828,000						2,828,000
U.S. Cellular | Earnest money received | Tower sale - first closing
Divestiture Financial Impacts
Cash received from divestitures													($7,500,000)
[1]	On December 30, 2014, TDS Telecom entered into an agreement with a third party to sell certain Wireline markets.
[2]	Cash settlement amounts are included in either the Net income or changes in Other assets and liabilities line items as part of Cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
[3]	Adjustment to liability represents changes to previously accrued amounts.

Acquisitions_Divestitures_and_3

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, exchanges (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014
Exchanges
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	($112,993,000)	($255,479,000)
Carrying value	1,453,574,000	1,423,779,000		1,453,574,000
Cash received from divestitures	187,645,000	811,120,000	50,182,000
Other current liabilities	181,803,000	212,374,000		181,803,000
U.S. Cellular
Exchanges
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993,000	-255,479,000
U.S. Cellular | PCS and AWS license exchange
Exchanges
Asset exchange description	In September 2014, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to exchange certain PCS and AWS licenses for certain other PCS and AWS licenses and $28.0 million of cash. This license exchange will be accomplished in two closing transactions. The first closing occurred in December 2014 at which time U.S. Cellular received licenses with an estimated fair value, per a market approach, of $51.5 million, recorded a $21.7 million gain in (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and recorded an $18.3 million deferred credit in Other current liabilities. The second closing is expected to occur in 2015. The license that will be transferred has been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014. At the time of the second closing, TDS will recognize the deferred credit from the first closing and expects to record a gain on the license exchange.
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges				-21,700,000
Fair value	51,500,000			51,500,000
Asset exchange, valuation method	market approach valuation method
Other current liabilities	18,300,000			18,300,000
U.S. Cellular | PCS license exchange
Exchanges
Asset exchange description	In September 2014, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to exchange certain of its PCS unbuilt licenses for PCS licenses located in U.S. Cellular’s operating markets plus $117.0 million of cash. This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2015. The book value of the licenses to be exchanged have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2014. TDS expects to record a gain when this transaction closes. In February 2014, U.S. Cellular completed an exchange whereby U.S. Cellular received one E block PCS spectrum license covering Milwaukee, WI in exchange for one D block PCS spectrum license covering Milwaukee, WI. The exchange of licenses provided U.S. Cellular with spectrum to meet anticipated future capacity and coverage requirements. No cash, customers, network assets, other assets or liabilities were included in the exchange. As a result of this transaction, TDS recognized a gain of $15.7 million, representing the difference between the $15.9 million fair value of the license surrendered, calculated using a market approach valuation method, and the $0.2 million carrying value of the license surrendered. This gain was recorded in (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of 2014.
U.S. Cellular | Expected event | PCS and AWS license exchange
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures					28,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Expected event | PCS license exchange
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures					117,000,000
U.S. Cellular | Spectrum exchange
Exchanges
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges						-15,700,000
Fair value						15,900,000
Carrying value						$200,000
Asset exchange, valuation method	market approach valuation method

Intangible_Assets_Details

Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	$836,843,000		$797,194,000	[1]
Acquisitions	33,610,000		76,915,000
Loss on impairment	-87,802,000
Divestitures	-2,855,000		-135,000
NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation			-37,131,000
Transferred to Assets held for sale	-8,444,000
Balance, end of period	771,352,000		836,843,000
Licenses
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Balance, beginning of period	1,423,779,000		1,480,039,000
Acquisitions	44,410,000		16,540,000
Transferred to Assets held for sale	-56,809,000		-16,027,000
Exchanges, net	55,780,000
Divestitures	-15,220,000		-59,419,000
Other	1,634,000		2,646,000
Balance, end of period	1,453,574,000		1,423,779,000
U.S. Cellular
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	232,041,000		269,307,000	[1]
Divestitures	-291,000		-135,000
NY1 & NY2 Deconsolidation			-37,131,000
Transferred to Assets held for sale	-4,344,000
Balance, end of period	227,406,000		232,041,000
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods	333,900,000
U.S. Cellular | Licenses
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Balance, beginning of period	1,405,759,000		1,462,019,000
Acquisitions	41,707,000		16,540,000
Transferred to Assets held for sale	-56,809,000		-16,027,000
Exchanges, net	55,780,000
Divestitures			-59,419,000
Other	1,634,000		2,646,000
Balance, end of period	1,448,071,000		1,405,759,000
Wireline
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	420,458,000	[2]			420,458,000	[1],[2]
Divestitures	-2,564,000	[2]
Transferred to Assets held for sale	-4,100,000	[2]
Balance, end of period	413,794,000	[2]			420,458,000	[1],[2]
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods	29,400,000
Wireline | Licenses
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Balance, beginning of period					2,800,000
Balance, end of period	2,800,000		2,800,000		2,800,000
Cable
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	61,712,000
Acquisitions	33,610,000		61,712,000
Balance, end of period	95,322,000		61,712,000
Cable | Licenses
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Acquisitions	2,703,000
Balance, end of period	2,703,000
Cable | Franchise rights
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Balance, beginning of period	123,668,000
Acquisitions	120,979,000		123,668,000
Divestitures	-347,000
Balance, end of period	244,300,000		123,668,000
HMS
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	118,830,000		103,627,000	[1]
Acquisitions			15,203,000
Loss on impairment	-84,000,000
Balance, end of period	34,830,000		118,830,000
Other
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	3,802,000	[3]			3,802,000	[1],[3]
Loss on impairment	-3,802,000	[3]
Balance, end of period					3,802,000	[1],[3]
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods	500,000
Other | Licenses
Licenses and Franchise Rights
Balance, beginning of period	15,220,000	[4]			15,220,000	[4]
Divestitures	-15,220,000	[4]
Balance, end of period					$15,220,000	[4]
Discounted cash flow valuation approach | HMS
Fair Value Inputs
Revenue growth rate	6.10%
Terminal revenue growth rate	2.50%
Discount Rate	11.50%
Capital expenditures as a percentage of revenue	8.60%
[1]	Includes accumulated impairment losses in prior periods as follows: $333.9 million for U.S. Cellular, $29.4 million for Wireline and $0.5 million for Other.
[2]	In July 2014, TDS Telecom sold certain Wireline markets.
[3]	TDS performed its annual impairment review of Goodwill in the fourth quarter of 2014. Based on the results of this review, TDS concluded that the entire amount of Goodwill related to Suttle-Straus was impaired, which resulted in a $3.8 million loss on impairment.
[4]	Represents the transfer of licenses from Airadigm to U.S. Cellular in 2014. See Note 6 b Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_E1

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity and cost method investments
Capital contributions, loans, advances and adjustments	$127,939	$132,629
Cumulative share of income	1,323,898	1,186,900
Cumulative share of distributions	-1,145,438	-1,033,087
Equity method investments	306,399	286,442
Cost method investments	15,330	15,330
Total investments in unconsolidated entities	321,729	301,772	179,921
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	131,965	132,714	92,867
Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership
Equity and cost method investments
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	71,800	78,400	67,200
Ownership interest in equity method investment	5.50%	5.50%	5.50%
Aggregate equity method investments
Equity method investments, combined assets
Current	733,133	520,804
Due from affiliates	303,322	408,735
Property and other	2,345,562	2,080,436
Total assets	3,382,017	3,009,975
Equity method investments, combined liabilities and equity
Current liabilities	407,073	355,167
Deferred credits	175,516	89,198
Long-term liabilities	29,342	31,605
Long-term capital lease obligations	1,722	707
Partners' capital and shareholders' equity	2,768,364	2,533,298
Total liabilities and equity	3,382,017	3,009,975
Equity method investments, combined income statements
Revenues	6,700,266	6,239,200	5,825,150
Operating expenses	5,063,925	4,492,372	4,381,731
Operating income	1,636,341	1,746,828	1,443,419
Other income, net	6,741	4,019	7,190
Net income	$1,643,082	$1,750,847	$1,450,609

Investment_in_Unconsolidated_E2

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities, Deconsolidation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 03, 2013
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Investments in unconsolidated entities	$321,729,000	301,772,000	$179,921,000
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Ownership interest in equity method investment	60.00%
New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Ownership interest in equity method investment	57.14%
St. Lawrence Seaway RSA Cellular Partnership and New York RSA 2 Cellular Partnership
Deconsolidation of New York Partnerships
Date Of Deconsolidation	3-Apr-13
Deconsolidation gain	14,500,000
Investments in unconsolidated entities				$114,800,000
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%
Terminal revenue growth rate (after year ten)		2.00%
Discount Rate		10.50%
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%
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%

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_D

Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$11,194,044,000	$11,239,804,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-7,347,919,000	-7,361,660,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,846,125,000	3,878,144,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	26,531,000	30,841,000	19,741,000
U.S. Cellular
Property, Plant and Equipment
Land	35,031,000	36,266,000
Buildings	296,502,000	304,272,000
Leasehold and land improvements	1,086,718,000	1,197,520,000
Cell site equipment	3,269,609,000	3,306,575,000
Switching equipment	960,377,000	1,161,976,000
Office furniture and equipment	553,630,000	539,248,000
Other equipment	89,663,000	92,456,000
System development	1,042,195,000	962,698,000
Work in process	125,015,000	116,501,000
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7,458,740,000	7,717,512,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-4,730,523,000	-4,860,992,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,728,217,000	2,856,520,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	593,200,000	791,100,000	597,700,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	21,469,000	30,606,000	18,088,000
U.S. Cellular | Buildings
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	20 years
U.S. Cellular | Leasehold and land improvements | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	1 year
U.S. Cellular | Leasehold and land improvements | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	30 years
U.S. Cellular | Cell site equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
U.S. Cellular | Cell site equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	25 years
U.S. Cellular | Switching equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
U.S. Cellular | Switching equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	8 years
U.S. Cellular | Office furniture and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
U.S. Cellular | Office furniture and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
U.S. Cellular | Other operating assets and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
U.S. Cellular | Other operating assets and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
U.S. Cellular | System development | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	1 year
U.S. Cellular | System development | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
TDS Telecom
Property, Plant and Equipment
Land	16,974,000	12,794,000
Buildings	172,963,000	148,800,000
Cable and wire	1,628,782,000	1,523,123,000
Network electronic equipment	1,278,799,000	1,229,941,000
Office furniture and equipment	79,666,000	74,507,000
Other equipment	102,540,000	94,438,000
System development	241,153,000	230,416,000
Work in process	91,419,000	88,614,000
Property, plant and equipment, gross	3,612,296,000	3,402,633,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-2,518,625,000	-2,417,999,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,093,671,000	984,634,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	195,100,000	182,600,000	177,300,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	4,754,000	283,000	1,128,000
TDS Telecom | Buildings | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
TDS Telecom | Buildings | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	40 years
TDS Telecom | Cable and wire | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	15 years
TDS Telecom | Cable and wire | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	35 years
TDS Telecom | Network electronic equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
TDS Telecom | Network electronic equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	13 years
TDS Telecom | Office furniture and equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
TDS Telecom | Office furniture and equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	10 years
TDS Telecom | Other equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	5 years
TDS Telecom | Other equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	12 years
TDS Telecom | System development | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	3 years
TDS Telecom | System development | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Useful life	7 years
TDS Telecom Wireline
Property, Plant and Equipment
Depreciation as a percent of depreciable property	5.20%	5.30%	5.60%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	2,091,000	130,000	1,020,000
Other
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, gross	123,008,000	119,659,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-98,771,000	-82,669,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	24,237,000	36,990,000
Depreciation and amortization expense	9,300,000	10,700,000	10,300,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	$308,000	($48,000)	$525,000

Asset_Retirement_Obligation_De

Asset Retirement Obligation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	$275,238	[1]	$253,610
Additional liabilities accrued	4,907		4,302
Revisions in estimated cash outflows	-992		3,706
Disposition of assets	-46,242		-4,111
Accretion expense	17,506		17,731
Transferred to Liabilities held for sale	-11,385
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	239,032	[1]	275,238	[1]
Other current liabilities
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	9,100		37,700
U.S. Cellular
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	195,568	[1]	179,607
Additional liabilities accrued	2,507		635
Revisions in estimated cash outflows	-2,792		6,268
Disposition of assets	-44,403		-3,534
Accretion expense	12,534		12,592
Transferred to Liabilities held for sale	-10,902
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	152,512	[1]	195,568	[1]
TDS Telecom
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	75,395	[1]	69,969
Additional liabilities accrued	2,400		3,667
Revisions in estimated cash outflows	1,777		-2,562
Disposition of assets	-882		-577
Accretion expense	4,723		4,898
Transferred to Liabilities held for sale	-177
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	83,236	[1]	75,395	[1]
Other
Asset retirement obligation
Asset retirement obligation - beginning balance	4,275	[1]	4,034
Revisions in estimated cash outflows	23
Disposition of assets	-957
Accretion expense	249		241
Transferred to Liabilities held for sale	-306
Asset retirement obligation - ending balance	$3,284	[1]	$4,275	[1]
[1]	The total amount of asset retirement obligations related to the Divestiture Transaction and Airadigm Transaction included in Other current liabilities was $9.1 million and $37.7 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Debt_revolving_credit_faciliti

Debt, revolving credit facilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revolving credit
Subordination agreement description	In connection with U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit facility, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into a subordination agreement dated December 17, 2010 together with the administrative agent for the lenders under U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement. Pursuant to this subordination agreement, (a) any consolidated funded indebtedness from U.S. Cellular to TDS will be unsecured and (b) any (i) consolidated funded indebtedness from U.S. Cellular to TDS (other than “refinancing indebtedness” as defined in the subordination agreement) in excess of $105,000,000, and (ii) refinancing indebtedness in excess of $250,000,000, will be subordinated and made junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of obligations to the lenders under U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement. As of December 31, 2014, U.S. Cellular had no outstanding consolidated funded indebtedness or refinancing indebtedness that was subordinated to the revolving credit agreement pursuant to the subordination agreement.
Revolving credit facility, terms of agreement	In July 2014, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into amendments to the revolving credit facilities agreements which increased the Consolidated Leverage Ratio (the ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) that the companies are required to maintain. Beginning July 1, 2014, TDS and U.S. Cellular are required to maintain the Consolidated Leverage Ratio at a level not to exceed 3.75 to 1.00 for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended (this was 3.00 to 1.00 prior to July 1, 2014). The terms of the amendment decrease the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio beginning January 1, 2016, with further decreases effective July 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017 (and will return to 3.00 to 1.00 at that time). For the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, the actual Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 2.50 to 1.00. Future changes in TDS’ and U.S. Cellular’s financial condition could negatively impact their ability to meet the financial covenants and requirements in their revolving credit facilities agreements. TDS also has certain other non-material credit facilities from time to time.
TDS Revolving credit facility | TDS Parent Company
Revolving credit
Maximum borrowing capacity	$400
Letters of credit outstanding	0.6
Amount available for use	399.4
Sample LIBOR rate	0.17%	[1]
Contractual spread	1.75%	[1]
Borrowing rate: One-month London InterBank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread	1.92%	[1]
Fees incurred as a percent of Maximum borrowing capacity for 2013	0.42%
Fees incurred, amount	1.7		0.9	1.3
Agreement date	17-Dec-10
Maturity date	17-Dec-17
Debt issuance cost, net of accumulated amortization	5.4
TDS Revolving credit facility | TDS Parent Company | Minimum
Revolving credit
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use	0.13%	[2]
TDS Revolving credit facility | TDS Parent Company | Maximum
Revolving credit
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use	0.30%	[2]
U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | U.S. Cellular
Revolving credit
Maximum borrowing capacity	300
Letters of credit outstanding	17.5
Amount available for use	282.5
Sample LIBOR rate	0.17%	[1]
Contractual spread	1.75%	[1]
Borrowing rate: One-month London InterBank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread	1.92%	[1]
Fees incurred as a percent of Maximum borrowing capacity for 2013	0.42%
Fees incurred, amount	$1.30		$0.80	$1.10
Agreement date	17-Dec-10
Maturity date	17-Dec-17
U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | U.S. Cellular | Minimum
Revolving credit
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use	0.13%	[2]
U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | U.S. Cellular | Maximum
Revolving credit
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use	0.30%	[2]
[1]	Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a contractual spread based on TDS' or U.S. Cellularbs credit rating or, at TDS' or U.S. Cellularbs option, an alternate bBase Rateb as defined in the revolving credit agreement. TDS and U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by TDS or U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders). If TDS or U.S. Cellular provides notice of intent to borrow less than three business days in advance of a borrowing, interest on borrowing is at the Base Rate plus the contractual spread.
[2]	The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to TDS and U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

Debt_longterm_debt_Details

Debt, long-term debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Long term debt
Total long-term debt	$1,994,394,000	$1,721,720,000
Debt issuance cost	53,900,000
Long-term debt, current	808,000	1,646,000
Long-term debt, noncurrent	1,993,586,000	1,720,074,000
TDS Parent Company
Long term debt
Long term debt	837,347,000	837,347,000
Long term debt maturities
Scheduled principal payments 2015	800,000
Scheduled principal payments 2016	3,800,000
Scheduled principal payments 2017	100,000
Scheduled principal payments 2018	100,000
Scheduled principal payments 2019	100,000
TDS Parent Company | 7% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	7.00%
Date of debt issuance	21-Mar-11
Maturity date of debt issued	15-Mar-60
Call date of debt issued	15-Mar-16
Long term debt	300,000,000	300,000,000
TDS Parent Company | 6.625% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	6.63%
Date of debt issuance	31-Mar-05
Maturity date of debt issued	31-Mar-45
Call date of debt issued	31-Mar-10
Long term debt	116,250,000	116,250,000
TDS Parent Company | 6.875% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	6.88%
Date of debt issuance	16-Nov-10
Maturity date of debt issued	15-Nov-59
Call date of debt issued	15-Nov-15
Long term debt	225,000,000	225,000,000
TDS Parent Company | 5.875% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	5.88%
Date of debt issuance	26-Nov-12
Maturity date of debt issued	1-Dec-61
Call date of debt issued	1-Dec-17
Long term debt	195,000,000	195,000,000
TDS Parent Company | Long term notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	6.00%
Date of debt issuance	3-Oct-01
Maturity date of debt issued	3-Oct-21
Purchase contracts	1,097,000	1,097,000
U.S. Cellular
Long term debt
Obligation on capital leases	2,143,000	3,749,000
U.S. Cellular | 6.95% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	6.95%
Date of debt issuance	9-May-11
Maturity date of debt issued	15-May-60
Call date of debt issued	15-May-16
Long term debt	342,000,000	342,000,000
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	6.70%
Maturity date of debt issued	15-Dec-33
Call date of debt issued	31-Dec-03
Long term debt, face value	544,000,000	544,000,000
Unamortized discount	-11,278,000	-11,551,000
Long term debt	532,722,000	532,449,000
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes | Maximum
Long term debt
Date of debt issuance	28-Jun-04
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes | Minimum
Long term debt
Date of debt issuance	8-Dec-03
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	7.25%
Date of debt issuance	1-Dec-14
Maturity date of debt issued	1-Dec-63
Call date of debt issued	8-Dec-19
Long term debt	275,000,000
TDS Telecom
Long term debt
Obligation on capital leases	768,000	779,000
TDS Telecom | Rural Utility Service and other notes
Long term debt
Long term debt	699,000	749,000
Other
Long term debt
Obligation on capital leases	29,000	35,000
Other | Long term notes
Long term debt
Long term debt	3,686,000	4,612,000
Other | Long term notes | Maximum
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	4.80%
Maturity date of debt issued	2-Dec-16
Other | Long term notes | Minimum
Long term debt
Interest rate on debt	3.70%
Total Subsidiaries
Long term debt
Total long-term debt	$1,157,047,000	$884,373,000

Debt_term_loan_facility_Detail

Debt, term loan facility (Details) (U.S. Cellular Term loan facility, U.S. Cellular, Subsequent event, USD $)	0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 25, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent events
Subsequent event, description			On January 21, 2015, U.S. Cellular entered into a term loan credit facility relating to $225.0 million in debt. The term loan must be drawn in one or more advances by the six month anniversary of the date of the agreement; amounts not drawn by that time will cease to be available. Amounts repaid or prepaid under the term loan facility may not be reborrowed. The term loan is available for general corporate purposes, including working capital, spectrum purchases and capital expenditures. The term loan is unsecured except for a lien on all investments in equity which U.S. Cellular may have in the loan administrative agent, CoBank ACB, subject to certain limitations.
Term loan
Maximum borrowing capacity	$225
Amount available for use	$225
Hypothetical Borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread	2.67%	[1]
Sample LIBOR rate	0.17%	[1]
Contractual spread	2.50%	[1]
Agreement date	21-Jan-15
Maturity date	21-Jan-22	[2]
Payment terms			Principal amounts outstanding on the term loan facility will be due and payable quarterly in equal installments beginning on the last day of the fifth fiscal quarter ending after the agreement date, in an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate term loan facility commitment. Any amounts owing under the term loan facility not previously repaid will be due and payable on the maturity date.
Subordination agreement description			In connection with U.S. Cellular’s term credit facility, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into a subordination agreement dated January 21, 2015 together with the administrative agent for the lenders under U.S. Cellular’s term loan credit agreement, which is substantially the same as the subordination agreement in the U.S. Cellular revolving credit facility described above. As of February 25, 2015, U.S. Cellular had no outstanding consolidated funded indebtedness or refinancing indebtedness that was subordinated to the term loan facility pursuant to this subordination agreement.
Minimum
Term loan
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use	0.13%	[3]
Maximum
Term loan
Range of commitment fees on amount available for use	0.30%	[3]
[1]	Borrowings under the term loan credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a contractual spread based on U.S. Cellularbs credit rating or, at U.S. Cellularbs option, an alternate bBase Rateb as defined in the term loan facility.
[2]	Principal amounts outstanding on the term loan facility will be due and payable quarterly in equal installments beginning on the last day of the fifth fiscal quarter ending after the agreement date, in an amount equal to 1.25% of the aggregate term loan facility commitment. Any amounts owing under the term loan facility not previously repaid will be due and payable on the maturity date.
[3]	The term loan credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

Employee_Benefit_Plans_defined

Employee Benefit Plans, defined Contribution Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee benefits
Description of defined contribution plan	Defined Contribution Plans TDS sponsors a qualified noncontributory defined contribution pension plan. The plan provides benefits for the employees of TDS Corporate, TDS Telecom and U.S. Cellular. Under this plan, pension costs are calculated separately for each participant and are funded annually. Total pension costs were $16.4 million, $16.2 million and $18.4 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, TDS sponsors a defined contribution retirement savings plan (“401(k)”) plan. Total costs incurred from TDS’ contributions to the 401(k) plan were $25.3 million, $24.8 million and $25.0 million in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. TDS also sponsors an unfunded nonqualified deferred supplemental executive retirement plan for certain employees to offset the reduction of benefits caused by the limitation on annual employee compensation under the tax laws.
Pension
Employee benefits
Defined contribution cost	$16.40	$16.20	$18.40
401(k)
Employee benefits
Defined contribution cost	$25.30	$24.80	$25

Employee_Benefit_Plans_other_P

Employee Benefit Plans, other Post-Retirement Benefits (Details) (Post Retirement Medical Benefits, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Amounts included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, before tax
Net prior service costs	$17,246,000		$18,833,000
Net actuarial loss	-8,436,000		-20,713,000
Sum net prior service cost and net actuarial loss	8,810,000		-1,880,000
Amounts to be amortized to net benefit cost
Estimated net actuarial loss amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost next year	300,000
Estimated prior service cost gain amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost next year	3,400,000
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	46,142,000		54,568,000
Service cost	1,018,000		1,348,000		1,197,000
Interest cost	2,255,000		2,137,000		2,297,000
Plan amendments	-2,057,000
Actuarial (gain) loss	-10,897,000		-9,437,000
Prescription drug subsidy	264,000
Employee contribution	2,216,000		2,230,000
Benefits paid	-4,296,000		-4,704,000
Benefit obligation at end of year	34,645,000		46,142,000		54,568,000
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	49,743,000		45,047,000
Actual return (loss) on plan assets	3,495,000		6,973,000
Employee contribution	2,216,000		2,230,000
Employer contribution	166,000		197,000
Benefits paid	4,296,000		4,704,000
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	51,324,000		49,743,000		45,047,000
Funded status	16,679,000		3,601,000
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Three year return	13.26%
Five year return	10.30%
Net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	1,018,000		1,348,000		1,197,000
Interest cost	2,255,000		2,137,000		2,297,000
Expected return on plan assets	-3,402,000		-3,065,000		-2,995,000
Amortization of prior service costs	-3,644,000	[1]	-3,605,000	[1]	-3,735,000	[1]
Amortization of actuarial losses	1,287,000	[2]	2,452,000	[2]	2,517,000	[2]
Net post-retirement cost	-2,486,000		-733,000		-719,000
Benefit obligations
Discount rate	4.20%		5.00%
Net periodic benefit cost assumptions
Discount rate	5.00%		4.00%
Expected return on plan assets	7.00%		7.00%
Discount rate assumptions	The discount rate for 2014 and 2013 was determined using a hypothetical Aa spot yield curve represented by a series of annualized individual spot discount rates from six months to 99 years. The spot rate curve was derived from a direct calculation of the implied forward rate curve based on the included bond cash flows. This yield curve, when populated with projected cash flows that represent the expected timing and amount of TDS plan benefit payments, produces a single effective interest discount rate that is used to measure the plan’s liabilities. The expected rate of return was determined using the target asset allocation for the TDS plan and rate of return expectations for each asset class. The measurement date for actuarial determination was December 31, 2014. For measurement purposes, the annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2014 to be 7.8% for plan participants aged 65 and above, and 7.5% for participants under age 65. For all participants the 2014 annual rate of increase is expected to decrease to 5.0% by 2022. The 2013 expected rate of increase was 7.5% for plan participants aged 65 and above, and 7.9% for participants under age 65, decreasing to 5.0% for all participants by 2021. A 1% increase or decrease in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014:
Health care trend rates
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	5.00%		5.00%
One percent increase effect on total service and interest cost components	25,000
One percent decrease effect on total service and interest cost components	-23,000
One percent increase effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	423,000
One percent decrease effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	-393,000
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments - next twelve months	1,687,000
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments - 2 years	1,719,000
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments - 3 years	1,662,000
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments - 4 years	1,652,000
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments - 5 years	1,667,000
Estimated future post-retirement benefit payments - 6-10 years	9,442,000
65 and older
Health care trend rates
Health care cost trend rate	7.80%		7.50%
Under 65
Health care trend rates
Health care cost trend rate	7.50%		7.90%
Level 1
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	51,323,000		49,732,000
Level 2
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,000		11,000
Bond Mutual Funds
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	12,697,000	[3]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	12,842,000	[3]
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Investment strategy of mutual fund	The funds seek to achieve a maximum total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management by investing in a wide spectrum of fixed income instruments including bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by government and private-sector entities.
Target asset allocation	30.00%
Actual asset allocation	29.00%		29.10%
Bond Mutual Funds | Level 1
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	12,842,000	[3]	12,697,000	[3]
Equity Mutual Funds | U.S. Large Cap
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	20,861,000	[4]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	20,191,000	[4]
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Investment strategy of mutual fund	The funds seek to track the performance of several benchmark indices that measure the investment return of large-capitalization stocks. The funds attempt to replicate the indices by investing substantially all of their assets in the stocks that make up the various indices in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the indices.
Equity Mutual Funds | U.S. Large Cap | Level 1
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	20,191,000	[4]	20,861,000	[4]
Equity Mutual Funds | U.S. Small Cap
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	4,500,000	[5]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	4,234,000	[5]
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Investment strategy of mutual fund	The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of small-capitalization stocks. The fund attempts to replicate the index by investing substantially all of its assets in the stocks that make up the index in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the index.
Equity Mutual Funds | U.S. Small Cap | Level 1
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	4,234,000	[5]	4,500,000	[5]
Equity Mutual Funds | International
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	9,876,000	[6]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	12,003,000	[6]
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Investment strategy of mutual fund	The funds seek to provide long-term capital appreciation by investing in the stocks of companies located outside the United States that are considered to have the potential for above-average capital appreciation.
Target asset allocation	24.00%
Actual asset allocation	23.40%		19.90%
Equity Mutual Funds | International | Level 1
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	12,003,000	[6]	9,876,000	[6]
Equity Mutual Funds | United States
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Target asset allocation	46.00%
Actual asset allocation	47.60%		51.00%
Money Market Mutual Funds
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	1,798,000	[7]
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	2,053,000	[7]
Benefit plan, investment and asset allocation
Investment strategy of mutual fund	The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity by investing in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, dollar-denominated short-term debt securities.
Money Market Mutual Funds | Level 1
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	2,053,000	[7]	1,798,000	[7]
Other
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,000		11,000
Other | Level 2
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$1,000		$11,000
[1]	Based on straight-line amortization over the average time remaining before active employees become fully eligible for plan benefits.
[2]	Based on straight-line amortization over the average time remaining before active employees retire.
[3]	Bond - The funds seek to achieve a maximum total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management by investing in a wide spectrum of fixed income instruments including bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by government and private-sector entities.
[4]	US large cap - The funds seek to track the performance of several benchmark indices that measure the investment return of large-capitalization stocks. The funds attempt to replicate the indices by investing substantially all of their assets in the stocks that make up the various indices in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the indices.
[5]	US small cap - The fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of small-capitalization stocks. The fund attempts to replicate the index by investing substantially all of its assets in the stocks that make up the index in approximately the same proportion as the weighting in the index.
[6]	International equity - The appreciation by investing in the stocks of companies located outside the United States that are considered to have the potential for above-average capital appreciation. funds seek to provide long-term capital.
[7]	Money market - The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity by investing in a diversified portfolio of high-quality, dollar-denominated short-term debt securities.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies, minimum lease obligations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Jan. 31, 2015
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure
Operating leases	TDS and its subsidiaries have leases for certain plant facilities, office space, retail store sites, cell sites, data centers and data-processing 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.
Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments 2015	$155,476	[1]
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments 2016	139,346	[1]
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments 2017	119,384	[1]
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments 2018	102,014	[1]
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments 2019	86,580	[1]
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments After 2019	798,530	[1]
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments Total	1,401,330	[1]
Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts 2015	54,463
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts 2016	43,918
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts 2017	34,619
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts 2018	24,095
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts 2019	12,038
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts After 2019	8,558
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Receipts Total	177,691
Subsequent event | Tower sale - second closing
Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Rental Payments Total			$88,400
[1]	*Includes $88.4 million of future lease payments associated with leases transferred in January 2015 per the second closing of the tower sale. See Note 6 b Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies, additional lease information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure
Rent expense, noncancellable long-term operating lease	$177	$187.40	$204.10
Rent expense, cancellable short-term operating lease	$8.80	$12.50	$10.40

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies, purchase commitments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Apple
Long-term Purchase Commitment
Purchase commitment agreement description	During 2013, U.S. Cellular entered into agreements with Apple to purchase certain minimum quantities of Apple iPhone products and fund marketing programs related to the Apple iPhone and iPad products over a three-year period beginning in November 2013. Based on current forecasts, TDS estimates that the remaining contractual commitment as of December 31, 2014 under these agreements is approximately $818 million. At this time, TDS expects to meet its contractual commitments with Apple.
Purchase commitment period	3 years
Purchase commitment remaining estimated payments	$818,000,000
Amdocs Software Systems Limited
Long-term Purchase Commitment
Purchase commitment agreement description	On November 25, 2014, U.S. Cellular executed a Master Statement of Work and certain other documents with Amdocs Software Systems Limited (“Amdocs”), effective October 1, 2014, that inter-relate with but rearrange the structure under previous Amdocs Agreements. The agreement provides that U.S. Cellular will now outsource to Amdocs certain support functions for its Billing and Operational Support System (“B/OSS”). Such functions include application support, billing operations and some infrastructure services. The agreement has a term through September 30, 2019, subject to five one-year renewal periods at U.S. Cellular’s option. The total estimated amount to be paid to Amdocs with respect to the agreement during the initial five-year term is approximately $110 million (exclusive of travel and expenses and subject to certain potential adjustments).
Purchase commitment period	5 years
Purchase commitment estimated payments	$110,000,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_4

Commitments and Contingencies, legal accruals and unasserted claims (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Loss Contingency, Estimate
Accrual for legal proceedings and unasserted claims	$0.40	$0.30

Variable_Interest_Entities_VIE1

Variable Interest Entities VIEs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2015
					number
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$471,901,000	$830,014,000	$740,481,000	$563,275,000
Other current assets	29,766,000	35,151,000
Licenses	1,453,574,000	1,423,779,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,846,125,000	3,878,144,000
Other assets and deferred charges	334,554,000	164,482,000
Liabilities
Current liabilities	1,063,256,000	1,191,756,000
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Federal Communications Commission deposit	60,000,000
Capital contributions, loans or advances	60,900,000
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features	1,150,000	536,000
U.S. Cellular
Assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,728,217,000	2,856,520,000
Variable Interest Entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2,588,000	2,076,000
Other current assets	278,000	1,184,000
Licenses	312,977,000	310,475,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	10,671,000	18,600,000
Other assets and deferred charges	60,059,000	511,000
Total assets	386,573,000	332,846,000
Liabilities
Current liabilities	110,000	46,000
Deferred liabilities and credits	622,000	3,139,000
Total liabilities	732,000	3,185,000
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Put option, exercisable dates	The limited partnership agreements of Advantage Spectrum, Aquinas Wireless and King Street Wireless also provide the general partner with a put option whereby the general partner may require the limited partner, a subsidiary of U.S. Cellular, to purchase its interest in the limited partnership. The general partner’s put options related to its interests in King Street Wireless and Aquinas Wireless will become exercisable in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The general partner’s put options related to its interest in Advantage Spectrum will become exercisable on the fifth and sixth anniversaries of the issuance of any license.
Advantage Spectrum L.P.
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Federal Communications Commission deposit	60,000,000
Subsequent Events
Subsequent event, description	An FCC auction of AWS-3 spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 97, began in November 2014 and ended in January 2015. TDS participated in Auction 97 indirectly through its interest in Advantage Spectrum. A subsidiary of U.S. Cellular is a limited partner in Advantage Spectrum. Advantage Spectrum qualified as a “designated entity,” and thereby was eligible for bid credits with respect to spectrum purchased in Auction 97. To participate in this auction, a $60.0 million deposit was made to the FCC in 2014. Such amount is reflected in Other Assets and Deferred Charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Advantage Spectrum was the provisional winning bidder for 124 licenses for an aggregate bid of $338.3 million, net of its anticipated designated entity discount of 25%. Advantage Spectrum’s bid amount, less the initial deposit of $60.0 million, plus certain other charges totaling $2.3 million, are required to be paid to the FCC by March 2, 2015.
Advantage Spectrum L.P. | U.S. Cellular | Subsequent event
Subsequent Events
Licenses won					124
Total winning bid					338,300,000
Designated entity auction discount					25.00%
Other auction charges					$2,300,000

Noncontrolling_Interests_Detai

Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Noncontrolling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders	($136,355,000)	$141,927,000	$81,861,000
Transfer (to) from the noncontrolling interests
Change in TDS' Capital in excess of par value from U.S. Cellular's issuance of U.S. Cellular shares	-12,420,000	-14,135,000	-8,854,000
Change in TDS' Capital in excess of par value from U.S. Cellular's repurchase of U.S. Cellular shares	1,296,000	3,370,000	4,789,000
Change in TDS' Capital in excess of par value from common control transaction	7,484,000
Purchase of ownership in subsidiaries from noncontrolling interests	-1,034,000	-123,000	4,397,000
Net transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests	-4,674,000	-10,888,000	332,000
Change from net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests	-141,029,000	131,039,000	82,193,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
Termination date range of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests - begin	2085
Termination date range of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests - end	2113
Settlement value of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	3,600,000
Carrying value of mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	$3,000,000

Common_Shareholders_Equity_Equ

Common Shareholders' Equity, Equity Rollforward (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Common shareholders' equity, share rollforward
Common stock, shares issued ending balance	132,749,000	132,711,000
Treasury Common Shares
Common shareholders' equity, share rollforward
Treasury shares, ending balance	24,850,000	23,954,000
Common Shares
Common shareholders' equity, share rollforward
Common stock, shares issued beginning balance	125,545,000	125,512,000	125,502,000
Conversion of Series A Common Shares	25,000	33,000	10,000
Common stock, shares issued ending balance	125,570,000	125,545,000	125,512,000
Common Shares | Treasury Common Shares
Common shareholders' equity, share rollforward
Treasury shares, beginning balance	23,954,000	24,641,000	24,165,000
Repurchase of shares	1,542,000	339,000	868,000
Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans - Treasury shares	-646,000	-1,026,000	-392,000
Treasury shares, ending balance	24,850,000	23,954,000	24,641,000
Common Shares | Series A Share Conversion
Common shareholders' equity, other disclosures
Shares reserved	7,178,943
Common Shares | Tax-Deferred Savings Plan
Common shareholders' equity, other disclosures
Shares reserved	90,341
Series A Common Shares
Common shareholders' equity, share rollforward
Common stock, shares issued beginning balance	7,166,000	7,160,000	7,119,000
Conversion of Series A Common Shares	-25,000	-33,000	-10,000
Dividend reinvestment, incentive and compensation plans	38,000	39,000	51,000
Common stock, shares issued ending balance	7,179,000	7,166,000	7,160,000

Common_Shareholders_Equity_Equ1

Common Shareholders' Equity, Equity Repurchase (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share repurchases
Amount	$39,096,000	$9,692,000	$20,026,000
Treasury Shares
Share repurchases
Amount	39,096,000	9,692,000	20,026,000
Common Shares | Treasury Shares
Share repurchases
Number of shares acquired	1,542,000	339,000	868,000
Common Shares | TDS Parent Company | Treasury Shares
Share repurchases
Number of shares acquired	1,542,000	339,000	868,000
Average cost per share	$25.36	$28.60	$23.08
Amount	39,096,000	9,692,000	20,026,000
Common share repurchase authorization	On August 2, 2013, the Board of Directors of TDS authorized a $250 million stock repurchase program for the purchase of TDS Common Shares from time to time pursuant to open market purchases, block transactions, private purchases or otherwise, depending on market conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date. In 2012, TDS had a prior share repurchase authorization for $250 million that expired on November 19, 2012.
Repurchase authorization, dollar value	250,000,000
Repurchase expiration	This authorization does not have an expiration date.
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | U.S. Cellular | Treasury Shares
Share repurchases
Number of shares acquired	496,000	499,000	571,000
Average cost per share	$38.19	$37.19	$35.11
Amount	$18,943,000	$18,544,000	$20,045,000
Common share repurchase authorization	On November 17, 2009, the Board of Directors of U.S. Cellular authorized the repurchase of up to 1,300,000 Common Shares on an annual basis beginning in 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, on a cumulative basis. These purchases will be made pursuant to open market purchases, block purchases, private purchases, or otherwise, depending on market prices and other conditions.
Repurchase authorization, number of shares	1,300,000
Repurchase expiration	This authorization does not have an expiration date.

StockBased_Compensation_TDS_Co

Stock-Based Compensation, TDS Consolidated (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	$35,793,000	$30,338,000	$41,871,000
Income tax benefit	-13,519,000	-11,459,000	-15,848,000
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes	22,274,000	18,879,000	26,023,000
Unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards	39,000,000
Weighted average period for recognition of unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards	2 years 2 months
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options and other awards	8,600,000
Cost of services and products
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	3,288,000	3,208,000	3,308,000
Selling, general and administrative expense
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	32,505,000	27,130,000	38,563,000
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	15,802,000	12,973,000	20,884,000
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Restricted Stock Units
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	17,968,000	15,535,000	19,025,000
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	690,000	550,000	749,000
Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Stock based compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	$1,333,000	$1,280,000	$1,213,000
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Under the TDS Long-Term Incentive Plans, TDS may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees.
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over periods up to three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 expire between 2015 and 2024. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee’s termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of TDS common stock on the date of grant.
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Minimum
Stock-based compensation, overview
Stock options expiration date	20-Apr-15
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Maximum
Stock-based compensation, overview
Stock options expiration date	16-May-24
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Restricted Stock Units
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	TDS also grants restricted stock unit awards to key employees. Each outstanding restricted stock unit is convertible into one Common Share Award. The restricted stock unit awards currently outstanding were granted in 2013 and 2014 and will vest in May 2016 and 2017, respectively.
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Certain TDS employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units. The amount of TDS’ matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% stock unit match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in TDS Common Share units.
TDS Parent Company | Common Shares | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	17,971,000
TDS Parent Company | Common Shares | Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	167,000
TDS Parent Company | Common Shares | Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	1,028,000
TDS Parent Company | Series A Common Shares | Series A Common Share Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	141,000

StockBased_Compensation_TDS_ex

Stock-Based Compensation, TDS excluding U.S. Cellular, Valuation model (Details) (TDS Parent Company, 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans, Stock Options)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
TDS Parent Company | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected life	5 years 10 months	5 years 8 months	5 years 6 months
Expected annual volatility rate	39.60%	41.00%	41.10%
Dividend yield	2.00%	2.30%	2.40%
Risk-free interest rate	1.80%	1.00%	0.90%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate	2.90%	2.90%	2.90%

StockBased_Compensation_TDS_ex1

Stock-Based Compensation, TDS excluding U.S. Cellular, Stock option rollforward schedules (Details) (TDS Parent Company, Common Shares, Stock Options, 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
TDS Parent Company | Common Shares | Stock Options | 2011 and 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock compensation, stock option rollforward schedule, number of shares
Outstanding, begin of period	8,780,000	8,513,000	7,216,000
Exercisable options, begin of period	6,160,000	5,782,000	4,865,000
Granted options	930,000	1,259,000	1,702,000
Exercised options	-40,000	-683,000	-1,000
Forfeited options	-73,000	-81,000	-106,000
Expired options	-457,000	-228,000	-298,000
Outstanding, end of period	9,140,000	8,780,000	8,513,000
Exercisable options, end of period	6,487,000	6,160,000	5,782,000
Stock compensation, stock option rollforward schedule, other information
Options outstanding, begin of period - weighted average exercise price	$30.74	$31.53	$33.89
Options exercisable, begin of period - weighted average exercise price	$34.13	$35.12	$36.67
Options granted, weighted average exercise price	$26.83	$22.60	$20.79
Options exercised, weighted average exercise price	$21.28	$25.33	$20.65
Options forfeited, weighted average exercise price	$23.05	$23.75	$23.81
Options expired, weighted average exercise price	$34.55	$34.10	$30.12
Options outstanding, end of period - weighted average exercise price	$30.25	$30.74	$31.53
Options exercisable, end of period - weighted average exercise price	$32.93	$34.13	$35.12
Options granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$8.66	$7.01	$6.28
Aggregate intrinsic value, options exercised	$174,000	$2,450,000	$4,000
Aggregate intrinsic value, options outstanding	9,651,000
Aggregate intrinsic value, options exercisable	$4,143,000
Weighted average remaining contractual life, outstanding	5 years 7 months
Weighted average remaining contractual life, exercisable	4 years 6 months

StockBased_Compensation_TDS_ex2

Stock-Based Compensation, TDS excluding U.S. Cellular, Nonvested shares and other stock compensation disclosures (Details) (TDS Parent Company, Common Shares, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value
Fair value of vested stock units	$0.10	$0.10	$0.10
Weighted average grant date fair value	$23.27	$21.99	$24.18
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Vested number of shares, unissued	249,000
Vested number of shares, unissued, fair value	6.3
Restricted Stock Units
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares rollforward, number of shares
Nonvested stock units, begin of period - Number of shares	663,000
Granted number of shares	355,000
Vested number of shares	-300,000
Forfeited number of shares	-26,000
Nonvested stock units, end of period - Number of shares	692,000	663,000
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value
Nonvested stock units - begin of period weighted average grant date fair value	$20.43
Granted weighted average grant date fair value	$25.26	$21.09	$19.62
Vested weighted average grant date fair value	$19.68
Forfeited weighted average grant date fair value	$21.31
Nonvested stock units - end of period weighted average grant date fair value	$23.20	$20.43
Fair value of vested stock units	$7.50	$5.80	$3.40
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Granted number of shares	355,000
Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Shares issued	33,000	33,000	22,000

StockBased_Compensation_US_Cel

Stock-Based Compensation, U.S. Cellular, Overview and Valuation model (Details) (U.S. Cellular)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Under the U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans, U.S. Cellular may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. At December 31, 2014, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards.
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2014 expire between 2015 and 2024. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee’s termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of U.S. Cellular Common Shares on the date of grant.
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Minimum
Stock-based compensation, overview
Stock options expiration date	31-Mar-15
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Maximum
Stock-based compensation, overview
Stock options expiration date	14-Jul-24
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Restricted Stock Units
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	U.S. Cellular grants restricted stock unit awards, which generally vest after three years, to key employees. U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of U.S. Cellular shares on the date of grant. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period.
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Stock-based compensation, overview
Terms of award	Certain U.S. Cellular employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units. The amount of U.S. Cellular’s matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units.
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	9,782,000
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected life	4 years 6 months		4 years 6 months
Expected annual volatility rate, minimum	28.00%	29.20%	40.70%
Expected annual volatility rate, maximum	28.10%	39.60%	42.60%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Risk-free interest rate, minimum	1.40%	0.70%	0.50%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum	1.50%	2.40%	0.90%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate	9.40%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, minimum		0.00%	0.00%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, maximum		8.10%	9.10%
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Minimum
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected life		4 years 7 months
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Maximum
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions
Expected life		9 years
U.S. Cellular Common Shares | Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Stock-based compensation, overview
Shares reserved	197,000

StockBased_Compensation_US_Cel1

Stock-Based Compensation, U.S. Cellular, Stock option rollforward schedules (Details) (U.S. Cellular, U.S. Cellular Common Shares, 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans, Stock Options, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
U.S. Cellular | U.S. Cellular Common Shares | 2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options
Stock compensation, stock option rollforward schedule, number of shares
Outstanding, begin of period	2,714,000	3,214,000	2,834,000
Exercisable options, begin of period	1,359,000	1,928,000	1,533,000
Granted options	1,116,000	1,213,000	677,000
Exercised options	-233,000	-892,000	-47,000
Forfeited options	-144,000	-574,000	-117,000
Expired options	-65,000	-247,000	-133,000
Outstanding, end of period	3,388,000	2,714,000	3,214,000
Exercisable options, end of period	1,586,000	1,359,000	1,928,000
Stock compensation, stock option rollforward schedule, other information
Options outstanding, begin of period - weighted average exercise price	$42.22	$41.58	$43.07
Options exercisable, begin of period - weighted average exercise price	$46.91	$43.99	$46.23
Options granted, weighted average exercise price	$41.21	$32.45	$34.91
Options exercised, weighted average exercise price	$32.80	$34.78	$29.82
Options forfeited, weighted average exercise price	$35.09	$34.17	$38.45
Options expired, weighted average exercise price	$45.68	$48.35	$46.17
Options outstanding, end of period - weighted average exercise price	$41.51	$42.22	$41.58
Options exercisable, end of period - weighted average exercise price	$45.28	$46.91	$43.99
Options granted, weighted average grant date fair value	$10.68	$11.53	$12.61
Aggregate intrinsic value, options exercised	$1,966,000	$6,787,000	$205,000
Aggregate intrinsic value, options outstanding	7,495,000
Aggregate intrinsic value, options exercisable	$2,984,000
Weighted average remaining contractual life, outstanding	6 years 8 months
Weighted average remaining contractual life, exercisable	4 years 5 months

StockBased_Compensation_US_Cel2

Stock-Based Compensation, U.S. Cellular, Nonvested shares and other stock compensation disclosures (Details) (U.S. Cellular, U.S. Cellular Common Shares, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Restricted Stock Units
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares rollforward, number of shares
Nonvested stock units, begin of period - Number of shares	1,170,000
Granted number of shares	370,000
Vested number of shares	-274,000
Forfeited number of shares	-124,000
Nonvested stock units, end of period - Number of shares	1,142,000	1,170,000
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value
Nonvested stock units - begin of period weighted average grant date fair value	$36.46
Granted weighted average grant date fair value	$41.24	$32.06	$34.09
Vested weighted average grant date fair value	$41.92
Forfeited weighted average grant date fair value	$34.38
Nonvested stock units - end of period weighted average grant date fair value	$35.60	$36.46
Fair value of vested stock units	$11.10	$8.80	$8.90
2005 and 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value
Granted weighted average grant date fair value		$31.50	$36.34
Fair value of vested stock units		$0.10	$0.10
Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Shares issued	14,200	13,000	7,600

Business_Segment_Details

Business Segment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment Information
Service	$4,328,654	$4,443,491	$4,952,603
Equipment and product sales	680,784	457,745	392,674
Total operating revenues	5,009,438	4,901,236	5,345,277
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	1,164,658	1,118,183	1,274,625
Cost of equipment and products	1,346,811	1,107,133	997,945
Selling, general and administrative	1,865,807	1,947,778	2,033,901
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	836,532	1,018,077	813,626
Loss on impairment of assets	87,802		515
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	26,531	30,841	19,741
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-15,846	-300,656	21,061
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993	-255,479
Operating income (loss)	-189,864	235,359	183,863
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	131,965	132,714	92,867
Interest and dividend income	16,957	9,092	9,248
Gain (loss) on investments		14,547	-3,718
Interest expense	-111,397	-98,811	-86,745
Other, net	115	-37	720
Income (loss) before income taxes	-152,224	292,864	196,235
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	836,532	1,018,077	813,626
Loss on impairment of assets	87,802		515
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-15,846	-300,656	21,061
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993	-255,479
Gain (loss) on investments		-14,547	3,718
Interest expense	111,397	98,811	86,745
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	754,668	839,070	1,121,900
Investments in unconsolidated entities	321,729	301,772	179,921
Total assets	8,906,939	8,904,147	8,623,900
Capital expenditures	770,577	909,660	1,004,621
U.S. Cellular
Business Segment Information
Service	3,397,937	3,594,773	4,098,856
Equipment and product sales	494,810	324,063	353,228
Total operating revenues	3,892,747	3,918,836	4,452,084
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	769,911	763,435	946,805
Cost of equipment and products	1,192,669	999,000	935,947
Selling, general and administrative	1,591,914	1,677,395	1,764,933
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	605,997	803,781	608,633
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	21,469	30,606	18,088
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-32,830	-246,767	21,022
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993	-255,479
Operating income (loss)	-143,390	146,865	156,656
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	129,764	131,949	90,364
Interest and dividend income	12,148	3,961	3,644
Gain (loss) on investments		18,556	-3,718
Interest expense	-57,386	-43,963	-42,393
Other, net	160	288	500
Income (loss) before income taxes	-58,704	257,656	205,053
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	605,997	803,781	608,633
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-32,830	-246,767	21,022
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges	-112,993	-255,479
Gain (loss) on investments		-18,556	3,718
Interest expense	57,386	43,963	42,393
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	458,856	584,598	880,819
Investments in unconsolidated entities	283,014	265,585	144,531
Total assets	6,487,268	6,445,708	6,587,450
Capital expenditures	557,615	737,501	836,748
TDS Telecom Wireline
Business Segment Information
Service	714,586	723,372	738,216
Equipment and product sales	1,836	3,195	3,532
Total operating revenues	716,422	726,567	741,748
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	256,878	266,635	270,333
Cost of equipment and products	2,336	3,831	3,732
Selling, general and administrative	189,956	220,097	235,716
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	169,044	170,868	172,526
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	2,091	130	1,020
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-2,357		39
Operating income (loss)	98,474	65,006	58,382
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	8	19	10
Interest and dividend income	2,396	1,759	3,085
Gain (loss) on investments		830
Interest expense	2,695	3,265	2,674
Other, net	-32	-214	-353
Income (loss) before income taxes	103,541	70,665	63,798
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	169,044	170,868	172,526
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-2,357		39
Gain (loss) on investments		-830
Interest expense	-2,695	-3,265	-2,674
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	267,533	237,438	233,689
Investments in unconsolidated entities	3,803	3,809	3,809
Total assets	1,419,478	1,452,502	1,519,698
Capital expenditures	135,805	140,009	158,580
TDS Telecom Cable
Business Segment Information
Service	116,855	35,883
Total operating revenues	116,855	35,883
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	54,265	17,274
Selling, general and administrative	36,175	11,054
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	23,643	7,571
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	2,482	28
Operating income (loss)	290	-44
Interest and dividend income	8	2
Interest expense	95	-74
Other, net	-1
Income (loss) before income taxes	392	-116
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	23,643	7,571
Interest expense	-95	74
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	23,940	7,529
Total assets	563,585	278,969
Capital expenditures	35,640	8,375
TDS Telecom HMS
Business Segment Information
Service	109,766	94,875	77,096
Equipment and product sales	148,966	90,741	35,914
Total operating revenues	258,732	185,616	113,010
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	77,392	60,423	46,836
Cost of equipment and products	126,362	75,991	28,945
Selling, general and administrative	53,020	44,945	34,193
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	26,912	24,262	20,568
Loss on impairment of assets	84,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	181	125	108
Operating income (loss)	-109,135	-20,130	-17,640
Interest and dividend income	26	63	25
Interest expense	-1,602	-1,626	-1,160
Other, net	12	29	-1
Income (loss) before income taxes	-110,699	-21,664	-18,776
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	26,912	24,262	20,568
Loss on impairment of assets	84,000
Interest expense	1,602	1,626	1,160
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	1,815	4,224	2,952
Total assets	268,972	328,397	267,798
Capital expenditures	36,618	16,474	15,344
TDS Telecom Eliminations
Business Segment Information
Service	-3,697	-1,063	-252
Total operating revenues	-3,697	-1,063	-252
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	-3,504	-1,000	-252
Selling, general and administrative	-193	-63
TDS Telecom
Business Segment Information
Service	937,510	853,067	815,060
Equipment and product sales	150,802	93,936	39,446
Total operating revenues	1,088,312	947,003	854,506
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	385,031	343,332	316,917
Cost of equipment and products	128,698	79,822	32,677
Selling, general and administrative	278,958	276,033	269,909
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	219,599	202,701	193,094
Loss on impairment of assets	84,000
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	4,754	283	1,128
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-2,357		39
Operating income (loss)	-10,371	44,832	40,742
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	8	19	10
Interest and dividend income	2,430	1,824	3,110
Gain (loss) on investments		830
Interest expense	1,188	1,565	1,514
Other, net	-21	-185	-354
Income (loss) before income taxes	-6,766	48,885	45,022
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	219,599	202,701	193,094
Loss on impairment of assets	84,000
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	-2,357		39
Gain (loss) on investments		-830
Interest expense	-1,188	-1,565	-1,514
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	293,288	249,191	236,641
Investments in unconsolidated entities	3,803	3,809	3,809
Total assets	2,252,035	2,059,868	1,787,496
Capital expenditures	208,063	164,858	173,924
Corporate, Eliminations and Other
Business Segment Information
Service	-6,793	-4,349	38,687
Equipment and product sales	35,172	39,746
Total operating revenues	28,379	35,397	38,687
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	9,716	11,416	10,903
Cost of equipment and products	25,444	28,311	29,321
Selling, general and administrative	-5,065	-5,650	-941
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	10,936	11,595	11,899
Loss on impairment of assets	3,802		515
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	308	-48	525
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	19,341	-53,889
Operating income (loss)	-36,103	43,662	-13,535
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	2,193	746	2,493
Interest and dividend income	2,379	3,307	2,494
Gain (loss) on investments		-4,839
Interest expense	-55,199	-56,413	-45,866
Other, net	-24	-140	574
Income (loss) before income taxes	-86,754	-13,677	-53,840
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	10,936	11,595	11,899
Loss on impairment of assets	3,802		515
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	19,341	-53,889
Gain (loss) on investments		4,839
Interest expense	55,199	56,413	45,866
Adjusted income (loss) before income taxes	2,524	5,281	4,440
Investments in unconsolidated entities	34,912	32,378	31,581
Total assets	167,636	398,571	248,954
Capital expenditures	$4,899	$7,301	($6,051)

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Disclos2

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Accounts receivable, Other	$135,144,000	$179,503,000
Interest paid	108,510,000	96,241,000	88,208,000
Income taxes paid (refunded)	48,876,000	175,629,000	-62,042,000
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	-2,019,000	9,654,000	-1,119,000
U.S. Cellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options	5,166,000	10,468,000	900,000
Cash disbursements for payments of taxes	-4,336,000	-4,684,000	-3,105,000
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	830,000	5,784,000	-2,205,000
U.S. Cellular | Auction 901 Mobility Funds
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
FCC auction date	27-Sep-12
FCC auction amount received	13,400,000
FCC auction number of states won	10
Letters of credit outstanding	17,400,000
U.S. Cellular | Other assets and deferred charges | Auction 901 Mobility Funds
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
FCC auction amount received	1,900,000
U.S. Cellular | Property, plant and equipment, net | Auction 901 Mobility Funds
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
FCC auction amount received	11,500,000
U.S. Cellular | Maximum | Auction 901 Mobility Funds
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
FCC auction amount	300,000,000
FCC auction amount awarded	40,100,000
TDS Parent Company
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options	732,000	12,092,000	16,000
Cash disbursements for payments of taxes	-2,751,000	-2,438,000	-1,135,000
Net cash receipts (disbursements) from exercise of stock options and vesting of other stock awards	-2,019,000	9,654,000	-1,119,000
TDS Telecom
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Recovery Act Grants Awarded	105,100,000
Recovery Act Projects Company Funds	30,900,000
Recovery Act Projects	44
Recovery Act Grants Received	15,300,000	41,900,000	16,700,000
Recovery Act Cumulative Grants Received	78,900,000
TDS Telecom | American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Grants
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
Accounts receivable, Other	14,200,000	23,600,000
Common Shares | U.S. Cellular
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Shares withheld	163,355	606,582	92,846
Aggregate value of shares withheld	6,868,000	25,179,000	3,604,000
Common Shares | TDS Parent Company
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Shares withheld	109,061	265,748	49,840
Aggregate value of shares withheld	2,751,000	7,639,000	1,102,000
Special Common Shares | TDS Parent Company
Supplemental cash flows, stock based compensation
Shares withheld			1,381
Aggregate value of shares withheld			$33,000

Recovered_Sheet1

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions (Details) (Sidley Austin LLP, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Sidley Austin LLP
Certain relationships and related transactions
Legal expense	$15.40	$17.60	$13.60
Description of related transaction	The following persons are partners of Sidley Austin LLP, the principal law firm of TDS and its subsidiaries: Walter C.D. Carlson, a trustee and beneficiary of a voting trust that controls TDS, the non-executive Chairman of the Board and member of the Board of Directors of TDS and a director of U.S. Cellular, a subsidiary of TDS; William S. DeCarlo, the General Counsel of TDS and an Assistant Secretary of TDS and certain subsidiaries of TDS; and Stephen P. Fitzell, the General Counsel of U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecommunications Corporation and an Assistant Secretary of certain subsidiaries of TDS. Walter C.D. Carlson does not provide legal services to TDS or its subsidiaries. TDS, U.S. Cellular and their subsidiaries incurred legal costs from Sidley Austin LLP of $15.4 million in 2014, $17.6 million in 2013 and $13.6 million in 2012.