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Debt, long-term debt (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Jul. 31, 2015
Long-term debt      
Principal amount $ 2,532 $ 2,520  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 75 75  
Total long-term debt 2,457 2,445  
Current portion of long-term debt 20 12  
Long-term debt, net 2,437 2,433  
TDS Parent Company      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 836 837  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 26 27  
Long-term debt 810 810  
Long-term debt maturities      
Scheduled principal payments 2018 21    
Scheduled principal payments 2019 21    
Scheduled principal payments 2020 21    
Scheduled principal payments 2021 13    
Scheduled principal payments 2022 $ 158    
TDS Parent Company | 6.625% Senior Notes      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 6.625%    
Date of debt issuance Mar. 31, 2005    
Maturity date of debt issued Mar. 31, 2045    
Call date of debt issued Mar. 31, 2010    
Principal amount $ 116 116  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 3 3  
Long-term debt $ 113 113  
TDS Parent Company | 6.875% Senior Notes      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 6.875%    
Date of debt issuance Nov. 16, 2010    
Maturity date of debt issued Nov. 15, 2059    
Call date of debt issued Nov. 15, 2015    
Principal amount $ 225 225  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 7 7  
Long-term debt $ 218 218  
TDS Parent Company | 7% Senior Notes      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 7.00%    
Date of debt issuance Mar. 21, 2011    
Maturity date of debt issued Mar. 15, 2060    
Call date of debt issued Mar. 15, 2016    
Principal amount $ 300 300  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 9 10  
Long-term debt $ 291 290  
TDS Parent Company | 5.875% Senior Notes      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 5.875%    
Date of debt issuance Dec. 03, 2012    
Maturity date of debt issued Dec. 01, 2061    
Call date of debt issued Dec. 01, 2017    
Principal amount $ 195 195  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 7 7  
Long-term debt $ 188 188  
TDS Parent Company | Purchase contracts      
Long-term debt      
Date of debt issuance Oct. 03, 2001    
Maturity date of debt issued Oct. 03, 2021    
Principal amount $ 0 1  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 0 0  
Purchase contracts $ 0 1  
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 6.70%    
Maturity date of debt issued Dec. 15, 2033    
Principal amount $ 544 544  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 15 15  
Long-term debt $ 529 529  
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes | Minimum      
Long-term debt      
Date of debt issuance Dec. 08, 2003    
Call date of debt issued Dec. 08, 2003    
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes | Maximum      
Long-term debt      
Date of debt issuance Jun. 28, 2004    
Call date of debt issued Jun. 28, 2004    
U.S. Cellular | 6.95% Senior Notes      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 6.95%    
Date of debt issuance May 09, 2011    
Maturity date of debt issued May 15, 2060    
Call date of debt issued May 15, 2016    
Principal amount $ 342 342  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 11 11  
Long-term debt $ 331 331  
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2063      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 7.25%    
Date of debt issuance Dec. 08, 2014    
Maturity date of debt issued Dec. 01, 2063    
Call date of debt issued Dec. 08, 2019    
Principal amount $ 275 275  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 10 10  
Long-term debt $ 265 265  
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064      
Long-term debt      
Interest rate on debt 7.25%    
Date of debt issuance Nov. 23, 2015    
Maturity date of debt issued Dec. 01, 2064    
Call date of debt issued Dec. 01, 2020    
Principal amount $ 300 300  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 10 10  
Long-term debt $ 290 290  
U.S. Cellular | U.S. Cellular Term loan facility      
Long-term debt      
Date of debt issuance Jul. 20, 2015    
Maturity date of debt issued Jan. 21, 2022    
Principal amount $ 203 214 $ 225
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 2 2  
Long-term debt 201 212  
U.S. Cellular | Capital lease obligations      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 4 2  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 0 0  
Capital lease obligations 4 2  
U.S. Cellular | Installment payment agreement      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 21 0  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 1 0  
Capital lease obligations 20 0  
TDS Telecom | Rural Utility Service and other notes      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 0 1  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 0 0  
Long-term debt 0 1  
TDS Telecom | Capital lease obligations      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 1 1  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs   0  
Capital lease obligations 1 1  
TDS Telecom | Installment payment agreement      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 2 0  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs   0  
Capital lease obligations 2 0  
Other | Long-term notes      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 4 4  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 0 0  
Long-term debt 4 4  
Total Subsidiaries      
Long-term debt      
Principal amount 1,696 1,683  
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 49 48  
Long-term debt $ 1,647 $ 1,635