Exhibit 12 UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997 ------------------- (Dollars in thousands) EARNINGS Income from Continuing Operations before income taxes $ 152,504 Add (Deduct): Minority Share of Cellular Losses (200) Earnings on Equity Method (60,537) Distributions from Minority Subsidiaries 39,861 Amortization of Capitalized Interest -- Minority interest in income of majority-owned -- subsidiaries that have fixed charges --------------- 131,628 Add fixed charges: Consolidated interest expense 19,911 Interest Portion (1/3) of Consolidated Rent Expense 3,094 Amortization of debt expense and discount on indebtedness 384 --------------- $ 155,017 =============== FIXED CHARGES Consolidated interest expense $ 19,911 Interest Portion (1/3) of Consolidated Rent Expense 3,094 Amortization of debt expense and discount on indebtedness 384 --------------- $ 23,389 =============== RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 6.63 =============== Tax-Effected Preferred Dividends $ 62 Fixed Charges 23,389 --------------- Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends $ 23,451 =============== RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS $ 6.61 ===============