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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Narrative (Details) |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) reporting_unit unit asset_group | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Number of wireless connections |  | 4,900,000 |  |
Wireline and Cable connections |  | 1,200,000 |  |
FCC licenses, number of accounting units | unit |  | 8 |  |
FCC licenses, number of accounting units, built licenses | unit |  | 1 |  |
FCC licenses, number of accounting units, unbuilt licenses | unit |  | 7 |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 262,000,000
Goodwill |  | 547,000,000 | 509,000,000 | 509,000,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 932,000,000 | 883,000,000 | 844,000,000
Net income |  | 147,000,000 | 175,000,000 | 157,000,000
Advertising costs |  | 227,000,000 | 230,000,000 | 228,000,000
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  | 370,000,000
Goodwill |  |  |  | 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 702,000,000 | 640,000,000 | 615,000,000
Net income |  | 133,000,000 | 164,000,000 | 15,000,000
Agent liability |  | $ 59,000,000 | 63,000,000 |
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit |  | 2 |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  |  | 0
Asset groups | asset_group |  | 2 |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | $ 200,000,000 | 212,000,000 | 195,000,000
Net income |  | 92,000,000 | 89,000,000 | 138,000,000
Wireline |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill |  | 409,000,000 | 409,000,000 | 409,000,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | 132,000,000 | 142,000,000 | 151,000,000
HMS |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | 0
Cable |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  | 0 | 0 | 0
Goodwill |  | 138,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  | $ 68,000,000 | 69,000,000 | $ 44,000,000
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Asset groups | asset_group |  | 1 |  |
Franchise rights |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Useful life |  | 15 years |  |
Franchise rights | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Renewal period |  | 10 years |  |
Useful life |  | 15 years |  |
Impairment of intangible assets | $ 0 |  |  |
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |  |  | 17,000,000 |
Net income |  |  | $ (13,000,000) |
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  | $ (0.11) |
Licenses |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Renewal period |  | 12 years |  |
Licenses | U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Impairment of intangible assets |  | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Minimum | Leasehold Improvements |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Useful life |  | 1 year |  |
Minimum | Licenses |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Renewal period |  | 10 years |  |
Maximum | Leasehold Improvements |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Useful life |  | 30 years |  |
Maximum | Licenses |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
Renewal period |  | 15 years |  |
U.S. Cellular |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular |  | 82.00% |  |

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