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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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