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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) segment | Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) license | Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2024 | Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2024 license | Dec. 31, 2024 asset_group | Jun. 30, 2024
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wireless connections |  |  |  |  | 4,400,000 |  |  |  |
Number of broadband, video and voice connections |  |  |  |  | 1,100,000 |  |  |  |
Change in reportable segments |  | During the second quarter of 2024, TDS and UScellular modified their reporting structure due to the planned disposal of the UScellular wireless operations and, as a result, disaggregated the UScellular operations into two reportable segments – Wireless and Towers. This presentation reflects how TDS' and UScellular's chief operating decision maker allocates resources and evaluates operating performance following this strategic shift. Prior periods have been updated to conform to the new reportable segments. See Note 20 — Business Segment Information for additional information about TDS' segments. |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | segment |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of implementation costs |  | $ 22 | $ 18 | $ 19 |  |  |  |  |
FCC licenses, number of accounting units |  |  | 1 |  | 12 |  | 12 |  | 2
Loss on impairment of intangible assets | $ 136 |  | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising costs |  | $ 207 | 208 | $ 196 |  |  |  |  |
UScellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
FCC Licenses, period of renewal |  | 12 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset groups | asset_group |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |
Agent liability |  |  | 50 |  |  | $ 44 |  |  |
TDS Telecom |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss on impairment of goodwill |  |  | $ 547 |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset groups | asset_group |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |
UScellular Total |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of reportable segments | segment |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UScellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asset groups | asset_group |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |
TDS Telecom | Franchise rights |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Renewal period |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Franchise rights useful life |  | 12 years | 15 years |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization period |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | UScellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
FCC Licenses, period of renewal |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Leasehold Improvements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Useful life |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization period |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | UScellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
FCC Licenses, period of renewal |  | 15 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Leasehold Improvements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Useful life |  | 30 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |
UScellular |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basis of presentation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
TDS ownership of UScellular |  |  |  |  | 83.00% |  |  |  |

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