Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
MEYERS KENNETH R
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ [TDS] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President & CFO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

TDS, 30 N. LASALLE ST. STE. 4000		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2008
(Street)


CHICAGO, IL 60602		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Shares 12/31/2008   J(2) 305.02 A $ (2) 1,658.77 I By 401K plan
Special Common Shares 12/31/2008   J(2) 28.45 A $ (2) 827.07 I By 401k plan
Common Shares             841.3111 D  
Special Common Shares 03/31/2008   J(3) 670.2413 A $ 31.705 1,590.4466 D  
Common Shares             500 I By Wife
Special Common Shares             500 I By Wife

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option (Right to buy) $ 59.45           12/15/2007 07/02/2017 Special Common Shares
52,942
  52,942
D
 
Option (Right to buy) $ 35.35             (4) 08/26/2018 Special Common Shares
93,000
  93,000
D
 
Restricted Stock Units             12/15/2009   (1) Special Common Shares
8,423
  8,423
D
 
Restricted Stock Units             12/15/2010   (5) Special Common Shares
13,448
  13,448
D
 
Option (right to buy) $ 31.705 03/31/2008   J(3)   670.2413 03/31/2008 03/31/2008 Special Common Shares
670.2413
(3) 0
D
 
Deferred Compensation   12/31/2008   J(6) 33.642     (6)   (6) Special Common Shares
2,915.7651
(6) 2,915.7651
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
MEYERS KENNETH R
TDS
30 N. LASALLE ST. STE. 4000
CHICAGO, IL 60602		   X     Executive Vice President & CFO  

Signatures

Julie D. Mathews, by power of atty 01/26/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Restricted stock unit award pursuant to the Long Term Incentive Plan. Stock units will become vested on December 15, 2009.
(2) Voluntary reporting of shares acquired in 2008 in the TDS 401K. The information is based on a plan statement dated 12/31/08. The number of shares fluctuates and is attributable to the price of the shares on 12/31/08.
(3) Disposition of option and acquisition of stock under the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(4) Granted under the 2004 Long-term Incentive Plan. Options vest over a 3 year period with one-third of the number of shares becoming exercisable on Aug. 26, 2009, one-third becoming exercisable on Aug. 26, 2010 and one-third becoming exercisable on Aug. 26, 2011.
(5) Restricted stock unit award pursuant to the Long Term Incentive Plan. Stock units will become vested on December 15, 2010.
(6) Reporting person deferred 2007 bonus pursuant to the 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan - bonus deferral totalled 2305.699 units and company match totaled 576.424 units. The employer match vests ratably 33%, 33% and 34% per year over a 3 year period (12/31/08 - 12/31/10). As of 12/31/08, a total of 2,529.561 shares are vested.

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