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Intangible Assets - Schedules (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | $ 509,000,000 | $ 509,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 38,000,000 |  |
Other |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 547,000,000 | 509,000,000 | $ 509,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets |  |  |
Gross Amount | 406,000,000 | 421,000,000 |
Accumulated Amortization | (167,000,000) | (168,000,000) |
Net Amount | 239,000,000 | 253,000,000 |
Franchise rights |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets |  |  |
Gross Amount | 255,000,000 | 255,000,000 |
Accumulated Amortization | (34,000,000) | (17,000,000) |
Net Amount | 221,000,000 | 238,000,000 |
Customer lists and Trade name |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets |  |  |
Gross Amount | 151,000,000 | 166,000,000 |
Accumulated Amortization | (133,000,000) | (151,000,000) |
Net Amount | 18,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
Wireline |  |  |
Schedule Of Indefinite Lived and Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods |  |  | 29,000,000
Goodwill |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 409,000,000 | 409,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 0 |  |
Other |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 409,000,000 | 409,000,000 | 409,000,000
Cable |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 38,000,000 |  |
Other |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 138,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000
U.S. Cellular |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  | 0 |
Loss on impairment |  |  | (227,000,000)
Balance, end of period |  |  | 0
Licenses |  |  |
Licenses |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 2,195,000,000 | 2,232,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 267,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
Transferred to Assets held for sale |  | (51,000,000) |
Divestitures | (10,000,000) | (11,000,000) |
Exchanges - Licenses received | 26,000,000 | 18,000,000 |
Exchanges - Licenses surrendered | 0 | (1,000,000) |
Capitalized interest | 2,000,000 |  |
Balance, end of period | 2,480,000,000 | 2,195,000,000 | 2,232,000,000
Licenses | Wireline |  |  |
Licenses |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 0 | 0 |
Transferred to Assets held for sale |  | 0 |
Divestitures | 0 | 0 |
Exchanges - Licenses received | 0 | 0 |
Exchanges - Licenses surrendered | 0 | 0 |
Capitalized interest | 0 |  |
Balance, end of period | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000
Licenses | Cable |  |  |
Licenses |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 0 | 0 |
Transferred to Assets held for sale |  | 0 |
Divestitures | 0 | 0 |
Exchanges - Licenses received | 0 | 0 |
Exchanges - Licenses surrendered | 0 | 0 |
Capitalized interest | 0 |  |
Balance, end of period | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000
Licenses | U.S. Cellular |  |  |
Licenses |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 2,190,000,000 | 2,227,000,000 |
Acquisitions | 267,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
Transferred to Assets held for sale |  | (51,000,000) |
Divestitures | (10,000,000) | (11,000,000) |
Exchanges - Licenses received | 26,000,000 | 18,000,000 |
Exchanges - Licenses surrendered | 0 | (1,000,000) |
Capitalized interest | 2,000,000 |  |
Balance, end of period | $ 2,475,000,000 | $ 2,190,000,000 | $ 2,227,000,000

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