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Basis of Presentation, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	$ 221	$ 211
Selling, general and administrative	395	407
Other, net income	1	2
Income before income taxes	81	77
Net income	$ 57	$ 43
Basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders	$ 0.35	$ 0.34
Diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders	$ 0.34	$ 0.33
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities	$ 23	$ 19
Franchise rights
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Useful life	15 years
Impairment of franchise rights	$ 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	4
Net income	$ (3)
Basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders	$ (0.03)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders	$ (0.03)
Adjustment | ASU 2017-07
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative		1
Other, net income		1
Income before income taxes		0
Net income		$ 0
Basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders		$ 0
Cumulative impact to retained earnings		$ 0
U.S. Cellular
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular	83.00%

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