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Debt - Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Jul. 31, 2015
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | $ 2,398,000,000 | $ 2,512,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 72,000,000 | 73,000,000 |
Total long term debt | 2,326,000,000 | 2,439,000,000 |
Current portion of long-term debt | 10,000,000 | 21,000,000 |
Long-term debt, net | 2,316,000,000 | 2,418,000,000 |
Long-term debt maturities |  |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2020 | 10,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2021 | 2,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2022 | 83,000,000 |  |
Maximum |  |  |
Long-term debt maturities |  |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2023 | 1,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2024 | $ 1,000,000 |  |
6.625% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.625% |  |
6.875% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.875% |  |
7.0% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.00% |  |
5.875% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 5.875% |  |
6.7% Senior Notes | Treasury Rate |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 0.30% |  |
Callable Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Redemption price, percentage | 100.00% |  |
Finance lease obligations |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | $ 8,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 0 | 0 |
Finance lease obligations | 8,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
Installment payment agreement |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | 8,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Long-term debt | 7,000,000 | 14,000,000 |
Other long-term notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 0 | 0 |
Long-term debt | $ 2,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
TDS Parent Company | 6.625% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.625% |  |
Principal amount | $ 116,000,000 | 116,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 113,000,000 | 113,000,000 |
TDS Parent Company | 6.875% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.875% |  |
Principal amount | $ 225,000,000 | 225,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 7,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 218,000,000 | 218,000,000 |
TDS Parent Company | 7.0% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.00% |  |
Principal amount | $ 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 9,000,000 | 9,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 291,000,000 | 291,000,000 |
TDS Parent Company | 5.875% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 5.875% |  |
Principal amount | $ 195,000,000 | 195,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 7,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 188,000,000 | 188,000,000 |
U.S. Cellular | 6.7% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.70% |  |
Principal amount | $ 544,000,000 | 544,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 13,000,000 | 14,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 531,000,000 | 530,000,000 |
Redemption price, percentage | 100.00% |  |
U.S. Cellular | 6.95% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.95% |  |
Principal amount | $ 342,000,000 | 342,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 11,000,000 | 11,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 331,000,000 | 331,000,000 |
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2063 |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.25% |  |
Principal amount | $ 275,000,000 | 275,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 265,000,000 | 265,000,000 |
U.S. Cellular | 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064 |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.25% |  |
Principal amount | $ 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
Long-term debt | 290,000,000 | 290,000,000 |
U.S. Cellular | U.S. Cellular Term loan facility |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | 83,000,000 | 191,000,000 | $ 225,000,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Long-term debt | $ 82,000,000 | $ 190,000,000 |

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