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Basis of Presentation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities	$ 14	$ 17
Equipment Installment Plans Accounting Change
Service revenue	746	771
Interest and dividend income	3	2
Adjustment
Equipment Installment Plans Accounting Change
Service revenue	$ 16	11
Interest and dividend income		$ (11)
TDS
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular	83.00%

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Amount before accretion (amortization) of purchase discount (premium) of interest income and dividend income on nonoperating securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(a),(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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