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Revenue Recognition - Contract Cost Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Contract cost assets
Total contract cost assets	$ 157	$ 164
Sales commissions
Contract cost assets
Total contract cost assets	146	154
Installation costs
Contract cost assets
Total contract cost assets	$ 11	$ 10

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- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment loss, of asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 340
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

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- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAxis=tds_SalesCommissionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAxis=tds_InstallationCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type: