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Business Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | $ 1,321 |  | $ 1,297 | $ 3,840 |  | $ 3,777 |  |
Selling, general and administrative | 439 |  | 421 | 1,260 |  | 1,232 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 237 |  | 220 | 697 |  | 662 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 6 |  | 0 | 5 |  | 3 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net | 0 |  | 0 | (1) |  | 0 |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 2 |  | 0 | 0 |  | (18) |  |
Operating income | 29 |  | 51 | 171 |  | 192 |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 44 |  | 42 | 129 |  | 121 |  |
Interest and dividend income | 7 |  | 6 | 24 |  | 18 |  |
Interest expense | (42) |  | (43) | (128) |  | (129) |  |
Other, net | 0 |  | 2 | 0 |  | 1 |  |
Income before income taxes | 38 |  | 58 | 196 |  | 203 |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 15 |  | 5 | 64 |  | 48 |  |
Net income | 23 |  | 53 | 132 |  | 155 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 237 |  | 220 | 697 |  | 662 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 6 |  | 0 | 5 |  | 3 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net | 0 |  | 0 | (1) |  | 0 |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 2 |  | 0 | 0 |  | (18) |  |
Interest expense | 42 |  | 43 | 128 |  | 129 |  |
Income tax expense | 15 |  | 5 | 64 |  | 48 |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 325 |  | 321 | 1,025 |  | 979 |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 511 |  | 500 | 511 |  | 500 | $ 480 |
Total assets | 10,881 | [1] | 9,719 | 10,881 | [1] | 9,719 | $ 9,783 | [1]
Capital expenditures | 253 |  | 177 | 664 |  | 430 |  |
Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 1,030 |  | 1,017 | 3,038 |  | 2,988 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 313 |  | 314 | 900 |  | 902 |  |
Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 291 |  | 280 | 802 |  | 789 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 295 |  | 291 | 808 |  | 804 |  |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 1,031 |  | 1,001 | 2,970 |  | 2,916 |  |
Selling, general and administrative | 358 |  | 346 | 1,027 |  | 1,014 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 181 |  | 160 | 524 |  | 478 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 5 |  | 3 | 13 |  | 5 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 2 |  |  |  |  | (18) |  |
Operating income | 20 |  | 34 | 115 |  | 155 |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 44 |  | 42 | 128 |  | 120 |  |
Interest and dividend income | 4 |  | 4 | 14 |  | 10 |  |
Interest expense | (29) |  | (29) | (87) |  | (87) |  |
Other, net |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |
Income before income taxes | 39 |  | 51 | 170 |  | 198 |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 15 |  | 14 | 55 |  | 55 |  |
Net income | 24 |  | 37 | 115 |  | 143 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 181 |  | 160 | 524 |  | 478 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 5 |  | 3 | 13 |  | 5 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 2 |  |  |  |  | (18) |  |
Interest expense | 29 |  | 29 | 87 |  | 87 |  |
Income tax expense | 15 |  | 14 | 55 |  | 55 |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 256 |  | 243 | 793 |  | 750 |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 471 |  | 461 | 471 |  | 461 |  |
Total assets | 8,291 |  | 7,228 | 8,291 |  | 7,228 |  |
Capital expenditures | 170 |  | 118 | 467 |  | 274 |  |
U.S. Cellular | Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 774 |  | 759 | 2,272 |  | 2,224 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 199 |  | 200 | 568 |  | 566 |  |
U.S. Cellular | Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 257 |  | 242 | 698 |  | 692 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 266 |  | 258 | 724 |  | 716 |  |
TDS Telecom Total |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 231 |  | 234 | 695 |  | 695 |  |
Selling, general and administrative | 67 |  | 63 | 193 |  | 187 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 50 |  | 53 | 150 |  | 160 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 0 |  | (3) | (7) |  | (2) |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Operating income | 20 |  | 28 | 86 |  | 71 |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Interest and dividend income | 3 |  | 2 | 9 |  | 5 |  |
Interest expense | 1 |  | 1 | 2 |  | 1 |  |
Other, net |  |  | 1 |  |  | 2 |  |
Income before income taxes | 24 |  | 31 | 97 |  | 80 |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 5 |  | (5) | 23 |  | 7 |  |
Net income | 18 |  | 36 | 74 |  | 73 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 50 |  | 53 | 150 |  | 160 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 0 |  | (3) | (7) |  | (2) |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Interest expense | (1) |  | (1) | (2) |  | (1) |  |
Income tax expense | 5 |  | (5) | 23 |  | 7 |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 73 |  | 80 | 238 |  | 236 |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 4 |  | 4 | 4 |  | 4 |  |
Total assets | 2,066 |  | 1,929 | 2,066 |  | 1,929 |  |
Capital expenditures | 81 |  | 54 | 193 |  | 140 |  |
TDS Telecom Total | Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 231 |  | 234 | 694 |  | 693 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 94 |  | 94 | 274 |  | 277 |  |
TDS Telecom Total | Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 169 |  | 177 | 512 |  | 526 |  |
Selling, general and administrative | 52 |  | 49 | 148 |  | 146 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 33 |  | 35 | 99 |  | 108 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 0 |  | (4) | (8) |  | (3) |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Operating income | 16 |  | 28 | 78 |  | 75 |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Interest and dividend income | 3 |  | 2 | 8 |  | 5 |  |
Interest expense | 1 |  | 1 | 2 |  | 1 |  |
Other, net |  |  | 1 |  |  | 2 |  |
Income before income taxes | 20 |  | 31 | 88 |  | 83 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 33 |  | 35 | 99 |  | 108 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 0 |  | (4) | (8) |  | (3) |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Interest expense | (1) |  | (1) | (2) |  | (1) |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 52 |  | 61 | 177 |  | 186 |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 4 |  | 4 | 4 |  | 4 |  |
Total assets | 1,430 |  | 1,302 | 1,430 |  | 1,302 |  |
Capital expenditures | 61 |  | 41 | 145 |  | 103 |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline | Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 169 |  | 176 | 512 |  | 524 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 68 |  | 68 | 195 |  | 200 |  |
TDS Telecom Wireline | Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
TDS Telecom Cable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 62 |  | 58 | 184 |  | 170 |  |
Selling, general and administrative | 15 |  | 14 | 44 |  | 42 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 17 |  | 17 | 51 |  | 52 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 0 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Operating income | 3 |  | 0 | 8 |  | (4) |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Interest and dividend income | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
Interest expense | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Other, net |  |  | 0 |  |  | 0 |  |
Income before income taxes | 4 |  | 0 | 9 |  | (3) |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 17 |  | 17 | 51 |  | 52 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 0 |  | 1 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Interest expense | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | 21 |  | 18 | 61 |  | 50 |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Total assets | 644 |  | 637 | 644 |  | 637 |  |
Capital expenditures | 20 |  | 13 | 48 |  | 37 |  |
TDS Telecom Cable | Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 62 |  | 58 | 183 |  | 170 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 27 |  | 26 | 79 |  | 78 |  |
TDS Telecom Cable | Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Corporate, Eliminations and Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 59 |  | 62 | 175 |  | 166 |  |
Selling, general and administrative | 14 |  | 12 | 40 |  | 31 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 6 |  | 7 | 23 |  | 24 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 1 |  | 0 | (1) |  | 0 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Operating income | (11) |  | (11) | (30) |  | (34) |  |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 1 |  |
Interest and dividend income | 0 |  | 0 | 1 |  | 3 |  |
Interest expense | (14) |  | (15) | (43) |  | (43) |  |
Other, net |  |  | 1 |  |  | (1) |  |
Income before income taxes | (25) |  | (24) | (71) |  | (75) |  |
Income tax expense (benefit) | (5) |  | (4) | (14) |  | (14) |  |
Net income | (19) |  | (20) | (57) |  | (61) |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 6 |  | 7 | 23 |  | 24 |  |
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net | 1 |  | 0 | (1) |  | 0 |  |
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net | 0 |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Interest expense | 14 |  | 15 | 43 |  | 43 |  |
Income tax expense | (5) |  | (4) | (14) |  | (14) |  |
Adjusted EBITDA | (4) |  | (2) | (6) |  | (7) |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities | 36 |  | 35 | 36 |  | 35 |  |
Total assets | 524 |  | 562 | 524 |  | 562 |  |
Capital expenditures | 2 |  | 5 | 4 |  | 16 |  |
Corporate, Eliminations and Other | Service |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 25 |  | 24 | 72 |  | 71 |  |
Cost of goods and services | 20 |  | 20 | 58 |  | 59 |  |
Corporate, Eliminations and Other | Equipment and product sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total operating revenues | 34 |  | 38 | 103 |  | 96 |  |
Cost of goods and services | $ 29 |  | $ 33 | $ 83 |  | $ 87 |  |
[1] | The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $913 million and $848 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $18 million and $21 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 11 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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- Definition This element represents 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.The amount is calculated as Income before income taxes, adjusted for: Depreciation, amortization and accretion; net Gain or loss on asset disposals (if any); net Gain or loss on sale of business and other exit costs (if any); net Gain or loss on license sales and exchanges (if any); Interest expense; and Income tax expense (benefit). + References No definition available. + Details
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