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Basis of Presentation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2017
Basis of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment to depreciation, amortization and accretion as a result of change in accounting estimate |  | $ 220,000,000 |  | $ 209,000,000 |  | $ 662,000,000 |  | $ 632,000,000 |
Net income (loss) |  | $ 53,000,000 | [1] | $ (231,000,000) |  | $ 155,000,000 | [1] | $ (176,000,000) |
Adjustment to basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders due to change in accounting estimate (in dollars per share) |  | $ 0.41 |  | $ (1.64) |  | $ 1.06 |  | $ (1.21) |
Adjustment to diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders due to change in accounting estimate (in dollars per share) |  | $ 0.41 |  | $ (1.64) |  | $ 1.04 |  | $ (1.21) |
Adjustment to selling, general and administrative as a result of adoption of new accounting guidance |  | $ 421,000,000 | [1] | $ 423,000,000 |  | $ 1,232,000,000 | [1] | $ 1,249,000,000 |
Adjustment to other, net income as a result of adoption of new accounting pronouncements |  | 2,000,000 |  | 1,000,000 | [2] | 1,000,000 |  | 3,000,000 | [2]
Adjustment to income (loss) before income taxes due to adoption of new accounting guidance |  | 58,000,000 | [1] | (236,000,000) |  | 203,000,000 | [1] | (137,000,000) |
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities |  | 22,000,000 |  | 20,000,000 |  | $ 67,000,000 |  | 58,000,000 |
ASU 2017-07 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  | $ 0 |
Adjustment to basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders due to change in accounting estimate (in dollars per share) |  |  |  | $ 0.00 |  |  |  | $ 0.00 |
Adjustment to selling, general and administrative as a result of adoption of new accounting guidance |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 3,000,000 |
Adjustment to other, net income as a result of adoption of new accounting pronouncements |  |  |  | 1,000,000 |  |  |  | 3,000,000 |
Adjustment to income (loss) before income taxes due to adoption of new accounting guidance |  |  |  | $ 0 |  |  |  | 0 |
Cumulative impact to retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0 |
Franchise rights |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Useful life |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years |  |  |
Impairment of franchise rights | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment to depreciation, amortization and accretion as a result of change in accounting estimate |  | 4,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 13,000,000 |  |  |
Net income (loss) |  | $ (3,000,000) |  |  |  | $ (10,000,000) |  |  |
Adjustment to basic earnings per share available to TDS common shareholders due to change in accounting estimate (in dollars per share) |  | $ (0.03) |  |  |  | $ (0.09) |  |  |
Adjustment to diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders due to change in accounting estimate (in dollars per share) |  | $ (0.03) |  |  |  | $ (0.08) |  |  |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of Presentation [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular |  | 82.00% |  |  |  | 82.00% |  |  |
[1] | 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.
[2] | 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.

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