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Commitments and Contingencies, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Leases, Rent Expense |  |  |
Rent expense, noncancellable long-term operating lease | $ 177 | $ 168 | $ 177
Rent expense, cancellable short-term operating lease | 12 | 11 | $ 9
Maximum |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Estimate |  |  |
Accrual for legal proceedings and unasserted claims | $ 1 | $ 1 |
Apple |  |  |
Purchase Commitments |  |  |
Purchase commitment agreement description | During 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into agreements with Apple to purchase certain minimum quantities of Apple iPhone products and fund marketing programs related to the Apple iPhone products over a three-year period beginning in September 2016. Based on current forecasts, U.S. Cellular estimates that the remaining contractual commitment as of December 31, 2016 under these agreements is approximately $1,351 million. At this time, U.S. Cellular expects to meet its contractual commitments with Apple. |  |
Purchase commitment period | 3 years |  |
Purchase commitment remaining estimated payments | $ 1,351 |  |
Amdocs |  |  |
Purchase Commitments |  |  |
Purchase commitment agreement description | In November 2014, U.S. Cellular executed a Master Statement of Work (“Master”) and certain other documents with Amdocs Software Systems Limited (“Amdocs”). The agreement provides that U.S. Cellular will outsource to Amdocs certain support functions for its Billing and Operations Support System (“B/OSS”). Such functions include application support, billing operations and some infrastructure services. In October 2016, U.S. Cellular executed two Statements of Work (“SOW”) with Amdocs for continued development and support related to its billing system. Both the Master and SOW agreements have terms through September 30, 2019 with the Master being subject to five one-year renewal periods at U.S. Cellular’s option. The estimated amounts to be paid to Amdocs with respect to the Master and SOW agreements during the remaining terms are approximately $53 million and $67 million (exclusive of travel and expenses and subject to certain potential adjustments), respectively. |  |
Amdocs statements of work |  |  |
Purchase Commitments |  |  |
Purchase commitment period | 3 years |  |
Purchase commitment remaining estimated payments | $ 67 |  |
Amdocs master statement |  |  |
Purchase Commitments |  |  |
Purchase commitment period | 5 years |  |
Purchase commitment remaining estimated payments | $ 53 |  |

X
- Definition This element represents the short term portion of payments that the lessee is not obligated or required to make in connection with a property under the terms of an agreement classified as an operating lease, excluding contingent rentals and a guarantee by the lessee of the lessor's debt and the lessee's obligation to pay (apart from the rental payments) executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes. + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition This element represents the long term portion of payments that the lessee is obligated to make or can be required to make in connection with a property under the terms of an agreement classified as an operating lease, excluding contingent rentals and a guarantee by the lessee of the lessor's debt and the lessee's obligation to pay (apart from the rental payments) executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The remaining estimated amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | tds_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Describes the terms of a significant arrangement with a supplier (excluding an unconditional purchase obligation) to acquire goods or services over a period of time beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, which may include identification of the goods or services to be purchased, pricing, effects on pricing of failing to reach minimum quantities required to be purchased, cancellation rights, and termination provisions. + References No definition available. + Details
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X
- Definition Period covered by the long-term purchase commitment, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
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- References No definition available. + Details
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