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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges (Details) $ in Millions |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 50 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May 16, 2013 USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 21 | $ 343 | $ 188 |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 | 136 | 16 |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 | 147 | 113 |  |
Assets held for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  | $ 8 |
Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53 | 287 | 295 |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 143 |  | 60 |  |
Other current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 99 |  |  |  | 99 | 127 |  | 99 |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 114 | 33 |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19 | 147 | 113 |  |
U.S. Cellular | Aggregate license acquisitions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite Lived Intangible Asset Agreement Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 57 |  |  |  | 57 |  |  | 57 |
Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53 |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Auction 1002 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 143 |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Auction 1002 | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total commitment amount |  | $ 327 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Auction 97 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal Communications Commission deposit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60 |  |
Licenses won |  |  |  | 124 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total winning bid |  |  |  | $ 338 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Designated entity auction discount |  |  |  | 25.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Airadigm Communications, Inc. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 92 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Book value of transferred assets |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of licenses disposed of in exchange |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash to be received |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 28
Assets held for sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  | 8 |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 2, first closing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9 |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 2, second closing | Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  | $ 15 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of licenses disposed of in exchange |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  | $ 117 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  | 125 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of Licenses received in exchange |  |  |  | $ 43 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash to be received |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 5, first closing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  | $ 22 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of licenses disposed of in exchange |  |  |  |  |  | 11 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of Licenses received in exchange |  |  |  |  |  | 52 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  | 18 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18 |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 5, second closing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  | $ 28 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  | 24 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Carrying value of licenses disposed of in exchange |  |  | $ 22 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | License exchange 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16 |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Divestiture Transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges | $ 480 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 | $ 29 |  |
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  | $ 159 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of towers |  |  |  |  |  | 595 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 595 |  |
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale, first closing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of towers |  |  |  |  |  | 236 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 236 |  |
U.S. Cellular | Tower sale, second closing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  | $ 142 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  | $ 120 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of towers |  |  |  |  | 359 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | St. Louis |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 92 |  |  |  |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 76 |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | Divestiture Transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 | 30 | $ 71 | 118 |
U.S. Cellular | Sprint Cost Reimbursement | Maximum | Divestiture Transaction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 200 |
U.S. Cellular | Earnest money received | Tower sale, first closing |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 | $ 2 |  |
Gain on license sales and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1 |  |  |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline | Wireline Markets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash received (paid) from divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26 |  |  |
Gain on sale of business and other exit costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 10 |  |  |
TDS Telecom Cable | BendBroadband |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase price |  |  |  |  |  |  | 261 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill aquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 33 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3179-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 + Details
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