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Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 921	$ 619
Short-term investments	$ 17	$ 100
Institutional and Other | Minimum
Financial Instruments
Fair value assumption, interest rate	5.03%	4.74%
Institutional and Other | Maximum
Financial Instruments
Fair value assumption, interest rate	8.00%	7.13%
Book Value
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 921	$ 619
Short-term investments	17	100
Book Value | Retail
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	1,753	1,753
Book Value | Institutional
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	534	534
Book Value | Other
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	182	194
Fair Value | Level 1
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	921	619
Short-term investments	17	100
Fair Value | Level 2 | Retail
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	1,596	1,783
Fair Value | Level 2 | Institutional
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	531	522
Fair Value | Level 2 | Other
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	$ 182	$ 194
7.0% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	7.00%
6.875% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	6.875%
6.625% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	6.625%
5.875% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	5.875%
7.25% 2063 Senior Notes | U.S. Cellular
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	7.25%
7.25% 2064 Senior Notes | U.S. Cellular
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	7.25%
6.95% Senior Notes | U.S. Cellular
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	6.95%
6.7% Senior Notes | U.S. Cellular
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate on debt	6.70%

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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