Dividend rate increased 4.9%

CHICAGO, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE: TDS, TDS.S), a leading provider of telecommunications services, has declared a first quarter 2009 dividend of $.1075 per Common Share, Special Common Share and Series A Common Share. Payment will be made on March 31, 2009 to shareholders of record on March 16, 2009.

TDSTM has paid cash dividends on its common stock since 1974.

About TDS

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 500(R) company, provides wireless, local and long-distance telephone, and broadband services to nearly 7.4 million customers in 36 states through its business units, U.S. Cellular (wireless) and TDS Telecom (wireline). Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 11,800 full-time equivalent employees as of Sept. 30, 2008. For more information about TDS, visit www.teldta.com.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit the Web sites at:

TDS: www.teldta.com TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com

USM: www.uscellular.com

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.