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Business Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | $ 993 |  | $ 992 | $ 1,970 |  | $ 1,989 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 262 |  | 255 | 510 |  | 496 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 1,255 |  | 1,247 | 2,480 |  | 2,485 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 300 |  | 298 | 587 |  | 580 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 266 |  | 287 | 512 |  | 557 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 417 |  | 420 | 813 |  | 826 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 220 |  | 211 | 441 |  | 422 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 2 |  | 6 | 3 |  | 10 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (11) |  | (2) | (17) |  | (19) |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 61 |  | 27 | 141 |  | 109 |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  | 40 |  | 33 | 78 |  | 65 |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 6 |  | 4 | 11 |  | 8 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (43) |  | (43) | (86) |  | (85) |  |  |
Other, net |  | 1 |  | 1 | 2 |  | 2 |  |  |
Income before income taxes |  | 65 |  | 22 | 146 |  | 99 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 21 |  | 10 | 45 |  | 44 |  |  |
Net income |  | 44 |  | 12 | 101 |  | 55 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 220 |  | 211 | 441 |  | 422 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 2 |  | 6 | 3 |  | 10 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (11) |  | (2) | (17) |  | (19) |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 43 |  | 43 | 86 |  | 85 |  |  |
Income tax expense |  | 21 |  | 10 | 45 |  | 44 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 319 |  | 280 | 659 |  | 597 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 477 |  | 452 | 477 |  | 452 |  | $ 453 |
Total assets |  | 9,498 | [2] | 9,378 | 9,498 | [2] | 9,378 |  | $ 9,295 | [2]
Capital expenditures |  | 138 |  | 134 | 253 |  | 230 |  |  |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 741 | [3] | 740 | 1,465 | [3] | 1,486 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 233 | [3] | 223 | 450 | [3] | 413 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 974 | [3] | 963 | 1,915 | [3] | 1,899 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 187 |  | 189 | 365 |  | 364 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 240 | [3] | 260 | 459 | [3] | 488 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 342 |  | 351 | 668 |  | 691 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 159 |  | 155 | 317 |  | 307 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 5 | 2 |  | 9 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (11) | [3] | (2) | (17) | [3] | (19) |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 56 | [3] | 5 | 121 | [3] | 59 |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  | 40 |  | 33 | 78 |  | 66 |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 3 |  | 2 | 7 |  | 5 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (29) |  | (28) | (58) |  | (56) |  |  |
Other, net |  |  |  |  | (1) |  | (1) |  |  |
Income before income taxes |  | 70 | [3] | 12 | 147 | [3] | 73 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 18 | [3] |  | 40 | [3] | 33 |  |  |
Net income |  | 52 | [3] | 12 | 107 | [3] | 40 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 159 |  | 155 | 317 |  | 307 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 5 | 2 |  | 9 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net |  | (11) | [3] | (2) | (17) | [3] | (19) |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 29 |  | 28 | 58 |  | 56 |  |  |
Income tax expense |  | 18 | [3] |  | 40 | [3] | 33 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 248 |  | 198 | 507 |  | 426 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 439 |  | 414 | 439 |  | 414 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 7,075 |  | 7,077 | 7,075 |  | 7,077 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 86 |  | 84 | 155 |  | 145 |  |  |
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 230 | [3],[4] | 231 | 460 | [3],[4] | 459 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 1 | [3] |  | 1 | [3] | 1 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 230 | [3],[4] | 231 | 461 | [3],[4] | 459 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 93 | [4] | 89 | 183 | [4] | 176 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  |  |  | 1 | 1 | [3] | 1 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 64 | [4] | 62 | 124 | [4] | 123 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 53 |  | 48 | 107 |  | 97 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 18 | [3] | 31 | 43 | [3] | 61 | [5] |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 2 |  | 1 | 3 |  | 2 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Other, net |  | 1 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 2 | [5] |  |
Income before income taxes |  | 21 | [3] | 33 | 48 | [3] | 65 |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | 5 | [3],[6] | 13 | 12 | [3],[6] | 25 | [6] |  |
Net income |  | 16 | [3] | 20 | 37 | [3] | 40 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 53 |  | 48 | 107 |  | 97 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |
Income tax expense |  | 5 | [3],[6] | 13 | 12 | [3],[6] | 25 | [6] |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 75 |  | 82 | 156 |  | 164 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 4 |  | 4 | 4 |  | 4 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 1,893 | [4] | 1,813 | 1,893 | [4] | 1,813 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 46 |  | 45 | 87 |  | 71 |  |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 173 | [3] | 180 | 348 | [3] | 359 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  | 1 | [3] | 1 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 174 | [3] | 181 | 349 | [3] | 360 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 67 |  | 65 | 131 |  | 129 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  |  |  | 1 | 1 | [3] | 1 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 50 |  | 49 | 97 |  | 97 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 36 |  | 37 | 72 |  | 76 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | 21 | [3] | 28 | 47 | [3] | 56 | [5] |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 2 |  | 1 | 3 |  | 2 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |
Other, net |  | 1 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 2 | [5] |  |
Income before income taxes |  | 24 | [3] | 30 | 52 | [3] | 60 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 36 |  | 37 | 72 |  | 76 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 59 |  | 67 | 124 |  | 137 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 4 |  | 4 | 4 |  | 4 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 1,260 |  | 1,200 | 1,260 |  | 1,200 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 33 |  | 33 | 62 |  | 50 |  |  |
TDS Telecom Cable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 57 | [3] | 51 | 112 | [3] | 100 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 57 | [3] | 51 | 112 | [3] | 100 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 27 |  | 24 | 52 |  | 48 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 15 |  | 13 | 28 |  | 25 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 18 |  | 11 | 35 |  | 21 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  |  |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | (3) | [3] | 3 | (4) | [3] | 5 |  |  |
Income before income taxes |  | (2) | [3] | 3 | (4) | [3] | 5 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 18 |  | 11 | 35 |  | 21 |  |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net |  |  |  |  | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | [1] | 16 |  | 14 | 32 |  | 27 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 643 |  | 611 | 643 |  | 611 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | 13 |  | 12 | 24 |  | 21 |  |  |
Corporate, Eliminations and Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Service |  | 22 | [3] | 21 | 45 | [3] | 44 |  |  |
Equipment and product sales |  | 28 | [3] | 32 | 59 | [3] | 82 |  |  |
Total operating revenues |  | 51 | [3] | 53 | 104 | [3] | 127 |  |  |
Cost of services (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) |  | 20 |  | 20 | 39 |  | 40 |  |  |
Cost of equipment and products |  | 26 | [3] | 26 | 52 | [3] | 68 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative |  | 11 |  | 7 | 21 |  | 12 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 8 |  | 8 | 17 |  | 18 |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  | (13) | [3] | (9) | (23) | [3] | (11) |  |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |
Interest and dividend income |  | 1 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 1 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | (14) |  | (15) | (29) |  | (29) |  |  |
Other, net |  |  |  |  | 2 |  | 1 | [5] |  |
Income before income taxes |  | (26) | [3] | (23) | (49) | [3] | (39) |  |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) |  | (2) | [3] | (3) | (7) | [3] | (14) |  |  |
Net income |  | (24) | [3] | (20) | (43) | [3] | (25) |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 8 |  | 8 | 17 |  | 18 |  |  |
Interest expense |  | 14 |  | 15 | 29 |  | 29 |  |  |
Income tax expense |  | (2) | [3] | (3) | (7) | [3] | (14) |  |  |
Adjusted EBITDA |  | (4) | [1] |  | (4) |  | 7 | [1] |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 34 |  | 34 | 34 |  | 34 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 530 |  | 488 | 530 |  | 488 |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  | $ 6 |  | $ 5 | $ 11 |  | $ 14 |  |  |
[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 June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $793 million and $765 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $17 million and $21 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 10 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.
[3] | As of January 1, 2018, TDS adopted ASU 2014-09 using a modified retrospective approach. Under this method, the new accounting standard is applied only to the most recent period presented. As a result, 2018 amounts include the impacts of ASU 2014-09, but 2017 amounts remain as previously reported, except as specifically stated. See Note 2 - Revenue Recognition for additional information.
[4] | TDS Telecom Total includes eliminations between the Wireline and Cable segments.
[5] | ASU 2017-07, regarding net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost was adopted as of January 1, 2018, and applied retrospectively. All prior year numbers have been recast to conform to this standard.
[6] | Income tax expense (benefit) is not provided at the individual segment level for Wireline and Cable. TDS calculates income tax expense for "TDS Telecom Total".

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