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Business Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | $ 4,050 |  | $ 4,356 |  | $ 4,338
Equipment and product sales |  | 1,105 |  | 854 |  | 680
Total operating revenues |  | 5,155 |  | 5,210 |  | 5,018
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 1,189 |  | 1,191 |  | 1,164
Cost of equipment and products |  | 1,240 |  | 1,224 |  | 1,347
Selling, general and administrative |  | 1,759 |  | 1,781 |  | 1,865
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 850 |  | 844 |  | 837
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 88
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 27 |  | 22 |  | 27
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  | (136) |  | (16)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (20) |  | (147) |  | (113)
Operating income (loss) |  | 111 |  | 431 |  | (181)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  | 140 |  | 140 |  | 132
Interest and dividend income |  | 11 |  | 5 |  | 8
Interest expense |  | (170) |  | (142) |  | (111)
Other, net |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 92 |  | 435 |  | (152)
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 40 |  | 172 |  | (5)
Net income (loss) |  | 52 |  | 263 |  | (147)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 850 |  | 844 |  | 837
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 88
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 27 |  | 22 |  | 27
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  | (136) |  | (16)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (20) |  | (147) |  | (113)
Interest expense |  | 170 |  | 142 |  | 111
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 40 |  | 172 |  | (5)
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 1,118 |  | 1,160 |  | 782
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 451 |  | 402 |  | 322
Total assets |  | 9,446 | [2] | 9,422 | [2] | 8,854
Capital expenditures |  | 630 |  | 759 |  | 771
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service | [3] | 3,081 |  | 3,384 |  | 3,407
Equipment and product sales |  | 909 |  | 647 |  | 495
Total operating revenues | [3] | 3,990 |  | 4,031 |  | 3,902
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 760 |  | 775 |  | 770
Cost of equipment and products |  | 1,081 |  | 1,053 |  | 1,193
Selling, general and administrative |  | 1,480 |  | 1,494 |  | 1,592
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 618 |  | 607 |  | 606
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 22 |  | 16 |  | 21
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (114) |  | (33)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (19) |  | (147) |  | (113)
Operating income (loss) | [3] | 48 |  | 347 |  | (134)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  | 140 |  | 140 |  | 130
Interest and dividend income | [3] | 6 |  | 2 |  | 3
Interest expense |  | (113) |  | (86) |  | (57)
Other, net |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | (1)
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 82 |  | 404 |  | (59)
Income tax expense (benefit) | [4] | 33 |  | 157 |  | (12)
Net income (loss) |  | 49 |  | 247 |  | (47)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 618 |  | 607 |  | 606
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 22 |  | 16 |  | 21
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (114) |  | (33)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (19) |  | (147) |  | (113)
Interest expense |  | 113 |  | 86 |  | 57
Income tax expense (benefit) | [4] | 33 |  | 157 |  | (12)
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 816 |  | 852 |  | 479
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 413 |  | 363 |  | 283
Total assets |  | 7,110 |  | 7,060 |  | 6,462
Capital expenditures |  | 446 |  | 533 |  | 558
TDS Telecom Wireline |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 696 |  | 699 |  | 715
Equipment and product sales |  | 2 |  | 2 |  | 2
Total operating revenues |  | 698 |  | 701 |  | 716
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 258 |  | 255 |  | 257
Cost of equipment and products |  | 2 |  | 2 |  | 2
Selling, general and administrative |  | 197 |  | 194 |  | 190
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 159 |  | 166 |  | 169
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 2 |  | 5 |  | 2
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (10) |  | (2)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (1) |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 80 |  | 89 |  | 98
Interest and dividend income |  | 3 |  | 2 |  | 2
Interest expense |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | 3
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 83 |  | 92 |  | 104
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 159 |  | 166 |  | 169
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 2 |  | 5 |  | 2
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (10) |  | (2)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (1) |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (1) |  | (1) |  | (3)
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 242 |  | 252 |  | 270
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 4 |  | 4 |  | 4
Total assets |  | 1,231 |  | 1,312 |  | 1,419
Capital expenditures |  | 108 |  | 140 |  | 136
TDS Telecom Cable |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 185 |  | 175 |  | 117
Total operating revenues |  | 185 |  | 175 |  | 117
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 94 |  | 79 |  | 54
Selling, general and administrative |  | 51 |  | 54 |  | 36
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 37 |  | 35 |  | 24
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 2 |  | 1 |  | 2
Operating income (loss) |  | 2 |  | 6 |  |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 2 |  | 7 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 37 |  | 35 |  | 24
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 2 |  | 1 |  | 2
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 41 |  | 42 |  | 26
Total assets |  | 599 |  | 578 |  | 564
Capital expenditures |  | 54 |  | 52 |  | 36
TDS Telecom HMS |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 119 |  | 117 |  | 110
Equipment and product sales |  | 155 |  | 170 |  | 149
Total operating revenues |  | 273 |  | 287 |  | 259
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 82 |  | 85 |  | 77
Cost of equipment and products |  | 128 |  | 143 |  | 126
Selling, general and administrative |  | 48 |  | 47 |  | 53
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 29 |  | 27 |  | 27
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 84
Operating income (loss) |  | (14) |  | (15) |  | (109)
Interest expense |  | (4) |  | (2) |  | (2)
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (18) |  | (18) |  | (111)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 29 |  | 27 |  | 27
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 84
Interest expense |  | 4 |  | 2 |  | 2
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 15 |  | 12 |  | 2
Total assets |  | 264 |  | 286 |  | 269
Capital expenditures |  | 11 |  | 27 |  | 37
TDS Telecom Eliminations |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | (5) |  | (5) |  | (4)
Total operating revenues |  | (5) |  | (5) |  | (4)
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | (4) |  | (4) |  | (4)
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 995 |  | 986 |  | 938
Equipment and product sales |  | 157 |  | 172 |  | 151
Total operating revenues |  | 1,151 |  | 1,158 |  | 1,088
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 430 |  | 414 |  | 385
Cost of equipment and products |  | 131 |  | 145 |  | 129
Selling, general and administrative |  | 295 |  | 294 |  | 279
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 224 |  | 228 |  | 220
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 84
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 4 |  | 6 |  | 5
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (10) |  | (2)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (1) |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 67 |  | 79 |  | (10)
Interest and dividend income |  | 3 |  | 2 |  | 2
Interest expense |  | (3) |  | (1) |  | 1
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | 67 |  | 81 |  | (7)
Income tax expense (benefit) | [4] | 25 |  | 35 |  | 18
Net income (loss) |  | 42 |  | 46 |  | (24)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 224 |  | 228 |  | 220
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 84
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 4 |  | 6 |  | 5
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (10) |  | (2)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (1) |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 3 |  | 1 |  | (1)
Income tax expense (benefit) | [4] | 25 |  | 35 |  | 18
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 298 |  | 306 |  | 298
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 4 |  | 4 |  | 4
Total assets |  | 2,094 |  | 2,176 |  | 2,252
Capital expenditures |  | 173 |  | 219 |  | 208
Corporate, Eliminations and Other |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | (26) |  | (14) |  | (7)
Equipment and product sales |  | 39 |  | 35 |  | 34
Total operating revenues |  | 14 |  | 21 |  | 28
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | (1) |  | 2 |  | 9
Cost of equipment and products |  | 28 |  | 26 |  | 25
Selling, general and administrative |  | (16) |  | (7) |  | (6)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 8 |  | 9 |  | 11
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 4
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  |  |  | 1
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  | (12) |  | 19
Operating income (loss) |  | (4) |  | 5 |  | (37)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Interest and dividend income |  | 2 |  | 1 |  | 3
Interest expense |  | (54) |  | (55) |  | (55)
Other, net |  | (1) |  |  |  | 1
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (57) |  | (50) |  | (86)
Income tax expense (benefit) | [4] | (18) |  | (20) |  | (11)
Net income (loss) |  | (39) |  | (30) |  | (76)
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 8 |  | 9 |  | 11
Loss on impairment of assets |  |  |  |  |  | 4
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  |  |  | 1
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  | (1) |  | (12) |  | 19
Interest expense |  | 54 |  | 55 |  | 55
Income tax expense (benefit) | [4] | (18) |  | (20) |  | (11)
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 4 |  | 2 |  | 5
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 34 |  | 35 |  | 35
Total assets |  | 242 |  | 186 |  | 140
Capital expenditures |  | $ 11 |  | $ 7 |  | $ 5
[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 December 31, 2016 and 2015 include assets held by consolidated VIEs of $804 million and $658 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $17 million and $1 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 14 — 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 numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change. See Note 21 — Retrospective Application of Change in Accounting Policy for additional details.
[4] | 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".

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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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