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Discontinued Operations
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Discontinued operations
Note 2 Discontinued Operations
In August 2023, TDS and Array announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies decided to initiate a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives for Array. On August 1, 2025, Array sold its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile US, Inc. (T-Mobile) pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement (Securities Purchase Agreement). TDS met the criteria to classify the wireless operations and select spectrum assets sold to T-Mobile as discontinued operations following the receipt of regulatory approval and subsequent closing of the transaction, all of which occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2025.
Total consideration received was $4,293.8 million after adjustments which included a combination of $2,628.8 million in cash proceeds and $1,665.0 million in debt assumed by T-Mobile through the preliminary results of an exchange offer made to Array's debtholders, which subsequently closed on August 5, 2025. Certain of these amounts are subject to final adjustment approximately 180 days after the closing date. The final cash proceeds are subject to adjustment according to the terms and conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement. As of September 30, 2025, Array recorded an estimated purchase price true-up due to T-Mobile of $20.2 million, which is classified as Current liabilities of discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. TDS expects a cash income tax liability on the T-Mobile transaction of between $75.0 million and $125.0 million. The transaction included a debt exchange offer whereby debt issued by Array could be exchanged for debt issued by T-Mobile, which reduced the cash portion of the purchase price. See Note 11 – Debt for additional information related to the debt exchange. The cash portion of the purchase price was also reduced by unearned contingent consideration of $89.3 million as well as other purchase price adjustments outlined in the Securities Purchase Agreement. In addition, certain licenses included in the T-Mobile transaction did not transfer to T-Mobile at the time of close and are subject to FCC approval. At closing, a $16.7 million deferral of the purchase price was recorded related to these spectrum licenses. The closing of the transaction triggered the recognition of certain cash and non-cash obligations. Such obligations include contingent advisory fees, employee compensation and severance, employee stock award costs, debt extinguishment, income tax expense, administrative costs and restructuring expenses. Array also may incur significant decommissioning costs for certain equipment and recorded a liability of $65.8 million as of September 30, 2025, which is classified as Other deferred liabilities and credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of July 31, 2025, the carrying value of the net assets sold to T-Mobile was $2,362.6. TDS recognized a loss on the transaction of $272.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2025.
Under the provisions of certain debt agreements, which did not transfer in the sale, Array was required to repay the outstanding borrowings with proceeds from the sale. Given that the repayment of debt is contractually triggered by the sale and the debt exchange is directly related to the T-Mobile transaction, the related interest expense is presented within discontinued operations. See Note 11 — Debt for additional information related to the repayment of debt and the debt exchange.
The transaction was structured as an asset sale for income tax purposes. As a result, no current or deferred tax assets or liabilities were transferred to T-Mobile.
On August 1, 2025, a Short-Term Spectrum Manager Lease Agreement and Short-Term Spectrum Manager Sublease Agreements became effective, which provide T-Mobile with an exclusive license to use certain Array spectrum assets and leases at no cost for up to one-year for the sole purpose of providing continued, uninterrupted service to customers. The portion of the purchase price allocated to the use of this spectrum was $149.3 million based on an estimate for fair market value and will be recognized to Short-term imputed spectrum lease income in the continuing operations Consolidated Statement of Operations over the one-year term.
On August 1, 2025, Array and T-Mobile entered into a Master License Agreement (MLA), pursuant to which, among other things, T-Mobile has agreed to license from Array, for a minimum of 15 years, space on a minimum of 2,015 towers owned by Array. The MLA also provided that T-Mobile extend the license term for approximately 600 towers owned by Array for a new 15-year term commencing on August 1, 2025. In addition, the MLA provides terms and conditions for T-Mobile, at its option, to revert certain equipment back to Array and would make Array responsible for any decommissioning, remediation, restoration, or disposal costs of such assets.
Following the close of the transaction, TDS entered into a transition services agreement (TSA) with T-Mobile to provide ongoing services and support. TDS recognized $3.0 million of income related to the TSA in Other, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025.
The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities that transferred in the sale did not meet the criteria to be classified as held for sale in the historical Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2024. However, during the three months ended September 30, 2025, TDS met the criteria to classify the wireless operations and select spectrum assets sold to T-Mobile as discontinued operations, and therefore, the major classes of assets and liabilities are presented as discontinued operations in the historical Consolidated Balance Sheet, as follows:
December 31, 2024
(Dollars in thousands)
Assets
Accounts receivable, net$942,177 
Inventory, net178,700 
Prepaid expenses39,147 
Other current assets3,008 
Total current assets of discontinued operations
1,163,032 
Licenses1,298,212 
Property, plant and equipment, net
2,117,517 
Operating lease right-of-use assets461,213 
Other assets and deferred charges622,619 
Total non-current assets of discontinued operations
4,499,561 
Total assets of discontinued operations$5,662,593 
Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt$224 
Accounts payable204,861 
Customer deposits and deferred revenues236,053 
Accrued taxes2,836 
Accrued compensation3,032 
Short-term operating lease liabilities125,137 
Other current liabilities99,432 
Total current liabilities of discontinued operations671,575 
Long-term operating lease liabilities326,406 
Other deferred liabilities and credits348,545 
Long-term debt, net1,635,709 
Total non-current liabilities of discontinued operations2,310,660 
Total liabilities of discontinued operations$2,982,235 
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations consists of the following:
Three Months Ended
September 30,		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2025202420252024
(Dollars in thousands)
Operating revenues
Service$238,088 $721,707 $1,659,802 $2,167,688 
Equipment sales70,989 174,856 401,106 554,810 
Total operating revenues309,077 896,563 2,060,908 2,722,498 
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)46,502 161,019 367,994 486,443 
Cost of equipment sold79,604 200,336 463,184 623,670 
Selling, general and administrative79,140 305,844 700,079 900,807 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion50,468 155,745 351,274 462,967 
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net913 3,449 5,314 13,741 
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net272,574 — 272,574 — 
Total operating expenses529,201 826,393 2,160,419 2,487,628 
Operating income (loss)(220,124)70,170 (99,511)234,870 
Other income (expense)
Interest expense(15,255)(43,695)(91,714)(129,005)
Other, net400 (52)190 (83)
Total other income (expense)(14,855)(43,747)(91,524)(129,088)
Income (loss) before income taxes(234,979)26,423 (191,035)105,782 
Income tax expense (benefit)(83,080)5,598 (58,885)37,629 
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations$(151,899)$20,825 $(132,150)$68,153