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Debt, long-term debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | $ 2,520 | $ 2,530
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 75 | 76
Total long-term debt | 2,445 | 2,454
Current portion of long-term debt | 12 | 14
Long-term debt, net | 2,433 | 2,440
TDS Parent Company |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | 837 | 837
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 27 | 28
Long-term debt | 810 | 809
Long-term debt maturities |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2017 | 12 |
Scheduled principal payments 2018 | 13 |
Scheduled principal payments 2019 | 12 |
Scheduled principal payments 2020 | 12 |
Scheduled principal payments 2021 | $ 14 |
TDS Parent Company | 6.625% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.625% |
Date of debt issuance | Mar. 31, 2005 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Mar. 31, 2045 |
Call date of debt issued | Mar. 31, 2010 |
Principal amount | $ 116 | 116
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 3 | 3
Long-term debt | $ 113 | 113
TDS Parent Company | 6.875% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.875% |
Date of debt issuance | Nov. 16, 2010 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Nov. 15, 2059 |
Call date of debt issued | Nov. 15, 2015 |
Principal amount | $ 225 | 225
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 7 | 8
Long-term debt | $ 218 | 217
TDS Parent Company | 7% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.00% |
Date of debt issuance | Mar. 21, 2011 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Mar. 15, 2060 |
Call date of debt issued | Mar. 15, 2016 |
Principal amount | $ 300 | 300
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10 | 10
Long-term debt | $ 290 | 290
TDS Parent Company | 5.875% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 5.875% |
Date of debt issuance | Dec. 03, 2012 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Dec. 01, 2061 |
Call date of debt issued | Dec. 01, 2017 |
Principal amount | $ 195 | 195
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 7 | 7
Long-term debt | $ 188 | 188
TDS Parent Company | Purchase contracts |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Date of debt issuance | Oct. 03, 2001 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Oct. 03, 2021 |
Principal amount | $ 1 | 1
Purchase contracts | $ 1 | 1
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.70% |
Maturity date of debt issued | Dec. 15, 2033 |
Principal amount | $ 544 | 544
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 15 | 15
Long-term debt | $ 529 | 529
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes | Minimum |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Date of debt issuance | Dec. 08, 2003 |
Call date of debt issued | Dec. 08, 2003 |
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes | Maximum |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Date of debt issuance | Jun. 28, 2004 |
Call date of debt issued | Jun. 28, 2004 |
U.S. Cellular | 6.95% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.95% |
Date of debt issuance | May 09, 2011 |
Maturity date of debt issued | May 15, 2060 |
Call date of debt issued | May 15, 2016 |
Principal amount | $ 342 | 342
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 11 | 11
Long-term debt | $ 331 | 331
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.25% |
Date of debt issuance | Dec. 08, 2014 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Dec. 01, 2063 |
Call date of debt issued | Dec. 08, 2019 |
Principal amount | $ 275 | 275
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10 | 10
Long-term debt | $ 265 | 265
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.25% |
Date of debt issuance | Nov. 23, 2015 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Dec. 01, 2064 |
Call date of debt issued | Dec. 01, 2020 |
Principal amount | $ 300 | 300
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10 | 10
Long-term debt | $ 290 | 290
U.S. Cellular | U.S. Cellular Term loan facility |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Date of debt issuance | Jul. 20, 2015 |
Maturity date of debt issued | Jan. 21, 2022 |
Principal amount | $ 214 | 225
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 2 | 2
Long-term debt | 212 | 223
U.S. Cellular | Obligation on capital leases |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | 2 | 2
Obligation on capital leases | 2 | 2
TDS Telecom | Rural Utility Service and other notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | 1 | 1
Long-term debt | 1 | 1
TDS Telecom | Obligation on capital leases |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | 1 | 1
Obligation on capital leases | 1 | 1
Other | Long-term notes |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | 4 | 3
Long-term debt | 4 | 3
Total Subsidiaries |  |
Long-term debt |  |
Principal amount | 1,683 | 1,693
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 48 | 48
Long-term debt | $ 1,635 | $ 1,645

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