EXHIBIT 5
SIDLEY & AUSTIN
ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603
January 8, 1997
United States Cellular Corporation
Suite 700
8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60631
Re: United States Cellular Corporation
Registration Statement on Form S-8
Gentlemen:
We are counsel to United States Cellular Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the Company in
connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") being filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
with respect to the offer and sale of 10,000 common shares, par value $1.00 per
share (the "Shares"), of the Company pursuant to the United States Cellular
Corporation Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan").
In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon a
copy of the Plan and the Registration Statement, including the related
Prospectus dated the date hereof. We have also examined and relied upon
originals, or copies of originals certified to our satisfaction, of such
agreements, documents, certificates and other statements of governmental
officials and other instruments, and examined such questions of law and have
satisfied ourselves as to such matters of fact, as we have considered relevant
and necessary as a basis for this opinion. We have assumed the authenticity of
all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures,
the legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity with the original
documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for our examination.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware; and
2. Each Share will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable when: (i) the Registration Statement shall have become effective
under the Securities Act; (ii) such Share shall have been duly issued and sold
in the manner contemplated by the Plan; and (iii) a certificate representing
such Share shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly
delivered to the purchaser thereof against payment of the agreed consideration
therefor (not less than the par value thereof) in accordance with the Plan.
We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion
to cover, and accordingly we express no opinion as to, the application of the
securities or "Blue Sky" laws of the various states to the sale of the Shares.
United States Cellular Corporation
January 8, 1997
Page 2
This opinion is limited to the Securities Act and the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
The Company is controlled by Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
("TDS") and TDS is controlled by a voting trust. Walter C.D. Carlson, a trustee
and beneficiary of the voting trust and a director of TDS, the Company and
certain other subsidiaries of TDS, Michael G. Hron, the Secretary of TDS and
certain subsidiaries of TDS, William S. DeCarlo, the Assistant Secretary of TDS
and certain subsidiaries of TDS, Stephen P. Fitzell, the Secretary of the
Company and certain other subsidiaries of TDS, and Sherry S. Treston, the
Assistant Secretary of the Company and certain other subsidiaries of TDS, are
partners of this Firm.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to all references to our Firm in or made a
part of the Registration Statement, including the related Prospectus.
Very truly yours,
SIDLEY & AUSTIN