EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
    As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference  in this Form 10-K of Telephone  and Data Systems, Inc., of our report
dated February 6, 1996 (except with respect to the matter discussed in Note  17,
as  to  which the  date is  February  20, 1996),  on the  consolidated financial
statements of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the  "Company")
included  in the Company's 1995 Annual  Report to Shareholders, to the inclusion
in this Form 10-K of our report  dated February 6, 1996 (except with respect  to
the  matter discussed in Note 17, as to which the date is February 20, 1996), on
the financial statement schedules of the  Company, and to the inclusion in  this
Form  10-K of  our compilation  report dated February  9, 1996,  on the combined
financial  statements  of  the  Los   Angeles  SMSA  Limited  Partnership,   the
Nashville/Clarksville  MSA Limited Partnership, and  the Baton Rouge MSA Limited
Partnership, and  to  the  incorporation  of such  reports  into  the  Company's
previously  filed  S-8  Registration  Statements,  File  No.  33-1192,  File No.
33-4420, File  No. 33-35172,  File No.  33-50747, File  No. 33-57257,  File  No.
33-64035  and File  No. 333-01041, and  into the Company's  previously filed S-3
Registration Statements, File No. 33-8564,  File No. 33-8857, File No.  33-8858,
File  No.  33-28348, File  No.  33-68456 and  File  No. 33-59435,  and  into the
Company's previously filed S-4 Registration Statements, File No. 33-45570,  File
No. 33-64293, File No. 33-62925, File No. 33-61009 and File No. 333-00727.
 
                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
March 21, 1996