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Business Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | $ 988 |  | $ 1,026 |  | $ 2,976 |  | $ 3,058 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 263 |  | 288 |  | 760 |  | 805 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 1,251 |  | 1,314 |  | 3,736 |  | 3,863 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 294 |  | 305 |  | 874 |  | 891 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 291 |  | 321 |  | 848 |  | 921 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 422 |  | 440 |  | 1,246 |  | 1,299 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 209 |  | 214 |  | 632 |  | 636 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  | 262 |  | 0 |  | 262 |  | 0 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 6 |  | 8 |  | 16 |  | 20 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  |  |  | (1) |  | (1) |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  |  |  | (7) |  | (19) |  | (16) |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | (232) |  | 33 |  | (122) |  | 113 |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  | 35 |  | 38 |  | 101 |  | 109 |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 4 |  | 2 |  | 12 |  | 7 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (43) |  | (42) |  | (128) |  | (127) |  |  |
Other, net |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (236) |  | 30 |  | (137) |  | 103 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | (5) |  | 14 |  | 39 |  | 45 |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (231) |  | 16 |  | (176) |  | 58 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 209 |  | 214 |  | 632 |  | 636 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  | 262 |  | 0 |  | 262 |  | 0 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 6 |  | 8 |  | 16 |  | 20 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  |  |  | (1) |  | (1) |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  |  |  | (7) |  | (19) |  | (16) |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 43 |  | 42 |  | 128 |  | 127 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | (5) |  | 14 |  | 39 |  | 45 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 283 |  | 287 |  | 881 |  | 869 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 467 |  | 459 |  | 467 |  | 459 |  | $ 451 |
Total assets |  | 9,210 | [2] | 9,449 |  | 9,210 | [2] | 9,449 |  | $ 9,446 | [2]
Capital expenditures |  | 172 |  | 145 |  | 402 |  | 412 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | $ 262 |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill allocation description |  |  |  |  |  | During the three months ended September 30, 2017, U.S. Cellular recorded a goodwill impairment of $370 million while TDS recorded a goodwill impairment of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit of $227 million. Prior to 2009, TDS accounted for U.S. Cellular's share repurchases as step acquisitions, allocating a portion of the share repurchase value to TDS' Goodwill. Further, goodwill of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit was impaired at the TDS level in 2003 but not at U.S. Cellular. Consequently, U.S. Cellular's goodwill on a stand-alone basis and any resulting impairments of goodwill does not equal the TDS consolidated goodwill related to U.S. Cellular. For further information on the goodwill impairment see Note 6 — Intangible Assets in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service | [3] | 737 |  | 784 |  | $ 2,223 |  | 2,330 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 226 |  | 239 |  | 639 |  | 655 |  |  |
Total operating revenues | [3] | 963 |  | 1,023 |  | 2,862 |  | 2,985 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 185 |  | 196 |  | 549 |  | 572 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 261 |  | 280 |  | 749 |  | 799 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 350 |  | 370 |  | 1,041 |  | 1,089 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 153 |  | 155 |  | 460 |  | 462 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | 370 |  |  |  | 370 |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 5 |  | 7 |  | 14 |  | 16 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  |  |  | (7) |  | (19) |  | (16) |  |  |
Operating income (loss) | [3] | (360) |  | 22 |  | (301) |  | 63 |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  | 35 |  | 38 |  | 101 |  | 110 |  |  |
Interest and dividend income | [3] | 2 |  | 1 |  | 6 |  | 4 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (28) |  | (28) |  | (85) |  | (84) |  |  |
Other, net |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (351) |  | 33 |  | (278) |  | 93 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | (53) |  | 15 |  | (19) |  | 39 |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (298) |  | 18 |  | (259) |  | 54 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 153 |  | 155 |  | 460 |  | 462 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | 370 |  |  |  | 370 |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 5 |  | 7 |  | 14 |  | 16 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  |  |  | (7) |  | (19) |  | (16) |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 28 |  | 28 |  | 85 |  | 84 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | (53) |  | 15 |  | (19) |  | 39 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 204 |  | 216 |  | 631 |  | 639 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 429 |  | 420 |  | 429 |  | 420 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 6,780 |  | 7,104 |  | 6,780 |  | 7,104 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 112 |  | 103 |  | 257 |  | 275 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | 227 |  |  |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill, subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  | (370) |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 257 |  | 248 |  | 770 |  | 746 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 28 |  | 39 |  | 94 |  | 123 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 285 |  | 287 |  | 865 |  | 868 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 110 |  | 110 |  | 327 |  | 320 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 23 |  | 33 |  | 79 |  | 103 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 73 |  | 75 |  | 215 |  | 222 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 56 |  | 57 |  | 166 |  | 168 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | 35 |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 2 |  | 2 |  | 4 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | (13) |  | 12 |  | 41 |  | 53 |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 2 |  | 1 |  | 4 |  | 2 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (3) |  | (2) |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (12) |  | 11 |  | 42 |  | 53 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | [5] | 3 |  | 4 |  | 24 |  | 20 |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  | (15) |  | 7 |  | 18 |  | 32 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 56 |  | 57 |  | 166 |  | 168 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | 35 |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 2 |  | 2 |  | 4 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 3 |  | 2 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | [5] | 3 |  | 4 |  | 24 |  | 20 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 80 |  | 71 |  | 248 |  | 226 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 4 |  | 4 |  | 4 |  | 4 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 2,028 |  | 2,123 |  | 2,028 |  | 2,123 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 58 |  | 40 |  | 139 |  | 128 |  |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 178 |  | 174 |  | 537 |  | 522 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 179 |  | 175 |  | 538 |  | 523 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 66 |  | 67 |  | 194 |  | 192 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  |  |  | 1 |  | 2 |  | 2 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 49 |  | 50 |  | 145 |  | 148 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 38 |  | 41 | [6] | 114 |  | 119 | [6] |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 2 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 26 |  | 16 |  | 84 |  | 61 |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 2 |  | 1 |  | 4 |  | 2 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 28 |  | 17 |  | 88 |  | 63 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 38 |  | 41 | [6] | 114 |  | 119 | [6] |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 2 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 66 |  | 58 |  | 202 |  | 183 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 4 |  | 4 |  | 4 |  | 4 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 1,201 |  | 1,259 |  | 1,201 |  | 1,259 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 41 |  | 27 |  | 91 |  | 82 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline | Depreciation out-of-period adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Out-of-period adjustment description |  |  |  |  |  | During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, TDS recorded an out-of-period adjustment attributable to the third quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2016 related to the over-depreciation of certain assets in the Wireline segment. TDS determined that this adjustment was not material to the quarterly periods or the annual results for 2016. As a result of this out-of-period adjustment, Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense decreased by $4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline | Depreciation, amortization and accretion | Depreciation out-of-period adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Out-of-period adjustment | [6] |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |
TDS Telecom Cable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 52 |  | 46 |  | $ 152 |  | 136 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 52 |  | 46 |  | 152 |  | 137 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 25 |  | 23 |  | 73 |  | 69 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 13 |  | 13 |  | 39 |  | 37 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 11 |  | 9 |  | 32 |  | 27 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 2 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 2 |  |  |  | 7 |  | 1 |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 2 |  |  |  | 7 |  | 1 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 11 |  | 9 |  | 32 |  | 27 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 2 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 14 |  | 10 |  | 41 |  | 30 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 619 |  | 592 |  | 619 |  | 592 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 14 |  | 11 |  | 35 |  | 41 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom HMS |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 28 |  | 29 |  | 84 |  | 91 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 27 |  | 39 |  | 93 |  | 121 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 56 |  | 68 |  | 178 |  | 212 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 21 |  | 21 |  | 63 |  | 61 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 22 |  | 33 |  | 77 |  | 101 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 11 |  | 12 |  | 32 |  | 37 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 7 |  | 7 |  | 21 |  | 22 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | 35 |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | (41) |  | (5) |  | (50) |  | (9) |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (3) |  | (3) |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (42) |  | (6) |  | (53) |  | (12) |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 7 |  | 7 |  | 21 |  | 22 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | 35 |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 3 |  | 3 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  | 1 |  | 3 | [1] | 6 | [1] | 13 | [1] |  |
Total assets |  | 208 |  | 273 |  | 208 |  | 273 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 2 |  | 2 |  | 13 |  | 6 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | 35 |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Eliminations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (3) |  | (3) |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (3) |  | (3) |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (3) |  | (3) |  |  |
Corporate, Eliminations and Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | (6) |  | (6) |  | (17) |  | (18) |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 9 |  | 10 |  | 27 |  | 27 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 3 |  | 4 |  | 9 |  | 10 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (2) |  | (1) |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 7 |  | 8 |  | 20 |  | 19 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | (1) |  | (5) |  | (10) |  | (12) |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  |  |  | 2 |  | 6 |  | 6 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | (143) |  |  |  | (143) |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 141 |  | (1) |  | 138 |  | (3) |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  | 1 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (14) |  | (13) |  | (40) |  | (41) |  |  |
Other, net |  |  |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | 1 |  |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 127 |  | (14) |  | 99 |  | (43) |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 45 |  | (5) |  | 34 |  | (14) |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  | 82 |  | (9) |  | 65 |  | (28) |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  |  |  | 2 |  | 6 |  | 6 |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill | [4] | (143) |  |  |  | (143) |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 14 |  | 13 |  | 40 |  | 41 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 45 |  | (5) |  | 34 |  | (14) |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  | (1) |  |  |  | 2 | [1] | 4 | [1] |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 34 |  | 35 |  | 34 |  | 35 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 402 |  | 222 |  | 402 |  | 222 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | $ 2 |  | $ 2 |  | $ 6 |  | $ 9 |  |  |
[1] | Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a segment measure reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to the segments and assessing their performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. TDS believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of TDS’ operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented above as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of TDS' financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance.
[2] | The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $757 million and $804 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $17 million for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 8 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.
[3] | Equipment installment plan interest income is reflected as a component of Service revenues consistent with an accounting policy change effective January 1, 2017. All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change. See Note 1 — Basis of Presentation for additional details.
[4] | During the three months ended September 30, 2017, U.S. Cellular recorded a goodwill impairment of $370 million while TDS recorded a goodwill impairment of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit of $227 million. Prior to 2009, TDS accounted for U.S. Cellular's share repurchases as step acquisitions, allocating a portion of the share repurchase value to TDS' Goodwill. Further, goodwill of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit was impaired at the TDS level in 2003 but not at U.S. Cellular. Consequently, U.S. Cellular's goodwill on a stand-alone basis and any resulting impairments of goodwill does not equal the TDS consolidated goodwill related to U.S. Cellular. For further information on the goodwill impairment see Note 6 — Intangible Assets in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
[5] | Income tax expense (benefit) is not provided at the individual segment level for Wireline, Cable and HMS. TDS calculates income tax expense for "TDS Telecom Total".
[6] | During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, TDS recorded an out-of-period adjustment attributable to the third quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2016 related to the over-depreciation of certain assets in the Wireline segment. TDS determined that this adjustment was not material to the quarterly periods or the annual results for 2016. As a result of this out-of-period adjustment, Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense decreased by $4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

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- Definition This element represents a segment measure reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to the segments and assessing their performance.The amount is calculated as Income before income taxes, adjusted for: Depreciation, amortization and accretion; net Gain or loss on asset disposals (if any); net Gain or loss on sale of business and other exit costs (if any); net Gain or loss on license sales and exchanges (if any); Interest expense; and Income tax expense (benefit). + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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