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Stock-Based Compensation Overview, Expense and Valuation Model (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 26 | $ 25 | $ 22
Income tax benefit | (10) | (10) | (8)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of income taxes | 16 | 15 | 14
Unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards | $ 29 |  |
Weighted average period for recognition of unrecognized compensation cost for all stock-based compensation awards | 1 year 11 months |  |
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options and other awards | $ 8 |  |
System operations |  |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | 3 | 3 | 3
Selling, general and administrative expense |  |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 23 | 22 | 19
Long-Term Incentive Plans |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | Under the U.S. Cellular Long-Term Incentive Plans, U.S. Cellular may grant fixed and performance based incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred compensation stock unit awards to key employees. At December 31, 2016, the only types of awards outstanding are fixed non-qualified stock option awards, restricted stock unit awards, and deferred compensation stock unit awards. |  |
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | Stock options granted to key employees are exercisable over a specified period not in excess of ten years. Stock options generally vest over a period of three years from the date of grant. Stock options outstanding at December 31, 2016 expire between 2017 and 2026. However, vested stock options typically expire 30 days after the effective date of an employee’s termination of employment for reasons other than retirement. Employees who leave at the age of retirement have 90 days (or one year if they satisfy certain requirements) within which to exercise their vested stock options. The exercise price of options equals the market value of U.S. Cellular Common Shares on the date of grant. |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 11 | 11 | 10
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Minimum |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Stock options expiration date | Apr. 03, 2017 |  |
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options | Maximum |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Stock options expiration date | Apr. 01, 2026 |  |
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | Restricted stock unit awards granted to key employees generally vest after three years. U.S. Cellular estimates the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of U.S. Cellular shares on the date of grant. The fair value is then recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which is generally the vesting period. |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 14 | 13 | 11
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units |  |  |
Stock-based compensation, overview |  |  |
Terms of Award | Certain U.S. Cellular employees may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their annual bonuses and to receive a company matching contribution on the amount deferred. All bonus compensation that is deferred by employees electing to participate is immediately vested and is deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units. The amount of U.S. Cellular’s matching contribution depends on the portion of the annual bonus that is deferred. Participants receive a 25% match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for amounts that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus; such matching contributions also are deemed to be invested in U.S. Cellular Common Share stock units and vest over three years. |  |
Non-Employee Directors' Plan |  |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Stock-based compensation expense | $ 1 | $ 1 | $ 1
Common Shares | Long-Term Incentive Plans |  |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Shares reserved | 14,759,000 |  |
Common Shares | Long-Term Incentive Plans | Stock Options |  |  |
Black Scholes valuation model assumptions |  |  |
Expected life | 4 years 8 months | 4 years 7 months | 4 years 6 months
Expected annual volatility rate, minimum | 30.50% | 30.10% | 28.00%
Expected annual volatility rate, maximum | 30.50% | 30.10% | 28.10%
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00%
Risk-free interest rate, minimum | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.40%
Risk-free interest rate, maximum | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.50%
Estimated annual forfeiture rate | 9.40% | 9.70% | 9.40%
Common Shares | Non-Employee Directors' Plan |  |  |
Stock-based compensation |  |  |
Shares reserved | 169,000 |  |

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- Definition The estimated measure of the maximum percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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