XML 106 R72.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.0.1

Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) | Jan. 14, 2022 USD ($) license | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) license | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) license | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | $ 547 | $ 547 |
Amortization expense for intangible assets |  |  | 21 | 26 | $ 24
Estimated amortization expense |  |  |  |  |
2022 |  |  | 20 |  |
2023 |  |  | 20 |  |
2024 |  |  | 17 |  |
2025 |  |  | 17 |  |
2026 |  |  | 17 |  |
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 547 | $ 547 |
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods |  |  | $ 29 |  |
Auction 103 | UScellular |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Licenses won | license |  |  |  | 237 |
Total winning bid |  |  |  | $ 146 |
FCC upfront payment |  |  |  |  | $ 5
Auction 107 | UScellular |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Licenses won | license |  |  | 254 |  |
Total winning bid |  |  | $ 1,283 |  |
FCC upfront payment |  |  |  | $ 30 |
Cash paid for licenses |  |  | 36 |  |
Auction 107 | UScellular | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid for licenses | $ 181 |  |  |  |
Auction 110 | UScellular |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
FCC upfront payment |  |  | $ 20 |  |
Auction 110 | UScellular | Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Licenses won | license |  | 380 |  |  |
Total winning bid |  | $ 580 |  |  |

X
- Definition Total number of licenses won in an FCC license auction. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tds_FccLicenseAuctionTotalLicensesWon
Namespace Prefix: | tds_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total winning bid amount in a FCC license auction. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tds_FccLicenseAuctionTotalWinningBid
Namespace Prefix: | tds_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Federal Communications Commission License Auction, Upfront Payment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tds_FederalCommunicationsCommissionLicenseAuctionUpfrontPayment
Namespace Prefix: | tds_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of amortization for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with finite life expected to be recognized in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of amortization for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with finite life expected to be recognized in fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of amortization for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with finite life expected to be recognized in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of amortization for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with finite life expected to be recognized in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of amortization for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with finite life expected to be recognized in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsFutureAmortizationExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(10)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120320667&loc=SL49117168-202975 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 852 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84165509&loc=d3e56426-112766 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121556970&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow to acquire asset without physical form usually arising from contractual or other legal rights, excluding goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=tds_TDSTelecomSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | tds_AcquisitionEventAxis=tds_Auction103AcquisitionEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=tds_UnitedStatesCellularCorporationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | tds_AcquisitionEventAxis=tds_Auction107AcquisitionEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | tds_AcquisitionEventAxis=tds_Auction110AcquisitionEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |