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Employee Benefits Plans | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract] |
Employee Benefit Plans | Note 13 Employee Benefit Plans Defined Contribution Plans TDS sponsors a qualified noncontributory defined contribution pension plan. The plan provides benefits for certain employees of TDS Corporate, TDS Telecom and UScellular. Under this plan, pension costs are calculated separately for each participant and are funded annually. Total pension costs were $16 million, $16 million and $17 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In addition, TDS sponsors a defined contribution retirement savings plan (401(k) plan). Total costs incurred from TDS’ contributions to the 401(k) plan were $27 million, $27 million and $25 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. TDS also sponsors an unfunded nonqualified deferred supplemental executive retirement plan for certain employees to offset the reduction of benefits caused by the limitation on annual employee compensation under the tax laws. Other Post-Retirement Benefits TDS sponsors a defined benefit post-retirement plan that provides medical benefits to retirees and that covers certain employees of TDS Corporate and TDS Telecom, which is not significant to TDS’ financial position or operating results. The plan is contributory, with retiree contributions adjusted annually. TDS recognizes the funded status of the plan as a component of Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Changes in the funded status are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheet before affecting such amounts for income taxes to the extent that such changes are not recognized in earnings as a component of net periodic benefit cost. The post-retirement benefit fund invests mainly in mutual funds that hold U.S. equities, international equities, and debt securities. The post-retirement benefit fund does not hold any debt or equity securities issued by TDS, UScellular or any related parties. The fair value of the plan assets of the post-retirement benefit fund was $77 million and $69 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The total plan benefit obligations were $54 million and $57 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Therefore, the total funded status was an asset of $23 million and $12 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. TDS is not required to set aside current funds for its future retiree health insurance benefits. The decision to contribute to the plan assets is based upon several factors, including the funded status of the plan, market conditions, alternative investment opportunities, tax benefits and other circumstances. In accordance with applicable income tax regulations, annual contributions to fund the costs of future retiree medical benefits may not exceed certain thresholds. TDS has not determined whether it will make a contribution to the plan in 2022.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for postemployment benefits, which may include supplemental unemployment benefits, obligations recognized for all types of benefits provided to former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries, and covered dependents after employment but before retirement. Disclosure may also include discussion that an obligation for postemployment benefits is not accrued in accordance with regulation only because the amount cannot be reasonably estimated. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 712 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6410195&loc=d3e80090-111668 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 712 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2197446 + Details
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