XML 112 R68.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Debt, revolving credit facilities (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Jul. 01, 2019
TDS Revolving credit facility | TDS Parent Company |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity | $ 400 |  |  |
Letters of credit outstanding | 1 |  |  |
Amount available for use | $ 399 |  |  |
Agreement date | Jun. 15, 2016 |  |  |
Maturity date | Jun. 15, 2021 |  |  |
U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Subordination agreement description | In connection with U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit facility, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into a subordination agreement dated June 15, 2016 together with the administrative agent for the lenders under U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement. Pursuant to this subordination agreement, (a) any consolidated funded indebtedness from U.S. Cellular to TDS will be unsecured and (b) any (i) consolidated funded indebtedness from U.S. Cellular to TDS (other than “refinancing indebtedness” as defined in the subordination agreement) in excess of $105 million and (ii) refinancing indebtedness in excess of $250 million will be subordinated and made junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of obligations to the lenders under U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement. As of December 31, 2016, U.S. Cellular had no outstanding consolidated funded indebtedness or refinancing indebtedness that was subordinated to the revolving credit agreement pursuant to the subordination agreement. |  |  |
U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Maximum borrowing capacity | $ 300 |  |  |
Letters of credit outstanding | 2 |  |  |
Amount available for use | $ 298 |  |  |
Agreement date | Jun. 15, 2016 |  |  |
Maturity date | Jun. 15, 2021 |  |  |
TDS and U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Unused commitment fees | $ 2 | $ 2 | $ 2 |
Interest Coverage Ratio | 3.00 |  |  |
Leverage Ratio | 3.25 |  |  |
Revolver compliance | TDS and U.S. Cellular believe they were in compliance as of December 31, 2016 with all covenants and other requirements set forth in the revolving credit facilities. |  |  |
TDS and U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | Future period |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Leverage Ratio |  |  |  | 3.00
TDS and U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | LIBOR rate |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Contractual spread | 1.75% |  |  |
TDS and U.S. Cellular Revolving credit facility | Alternative Base Rate |  |  |  |
Revolving credit |  |  |  |
Contractual spread | 0.75% |  |  |

X
- Definition The minimum interest coverage ratio required according to the terms for borrowing under this debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tds_DebtInstrumentCovenantInterestCoverageRatioRequiredMinimum
Namespace Prefix: | tds_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The maximum leverage ratio required according to the terms for borrowing under this debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tds_DebtInstrumentCovenantLeverageRatioRequiredMaximum
Namespace Prefix: | tds_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of the fee for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Identification of whether the entity has been in compliance with any credit facility debt covenants during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644 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(13)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: 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(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: 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(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19)(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantCompliance
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Description of the terms of a credit facility arrangement. Terms typically include interest rate, collateral required, guarantees required, repayment requirements, and restrictions on use of assets and activities of the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityDescription
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Date the credit facility first became available, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInitiationDate1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=tds_RevolvingCreditFacilityBMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=tds_RevolvingCreditFacilityCMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=tds_USCellularSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=tds_CombinedCreditFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_BaseRateMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |