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Debt, term loan facility (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Jul. 31, 2015
Long-term debt      
Principal Amount $ 1,689 $ 1,677  
U.S. Cellular Term loan facility      
Long-term debt      
Principal Amount 203 $ 214 $ 225
Term Loan periodic payment amount $ 3    
Frequency of periodic Term Loan payment quarterly    
Date of debt issuance Jul. 20, 2015    
Maturity date of debt issued Jan. 21, 2022    
Payment terms In July 2015, U.S. Cellular borrowed $225 million on a senior term loan credit facility in two separate draws. This facility was entered into in January 2015 and amended and restated in June 2016. The interest rate on outstanding borrowings is reset at three and six month intervals at a rate of LIBOR plus 250 basis points. This credit facility provides for the draws to be continued on a long-term basis under terms that are readily determinable. U.S. Cellular has the ability and intent to carry the debt for the duration of the agreement. Principal reductions are due and payable in quarterly installments of $3 million beginning in March 2016 through December 2021, and the remaining unpaid balance will be due and payable in January 2022. The senior term loan credit facility contains financial covenants and subsidiary guarantees that are consistent with the revolving credit agreements described above. This facility was entered into for general corporate purposes, including working capital, spectrum purchases and capital expenditures.    
Subordination agreement description In connection with U.S. Cellular’s term loan credit facility, TDS and U.S. Cellular entered into a subordination agreement in June 2016 together with the administrative agent for the lenders under U.S. Cellular’s term loan credit agreement, which is substantially the same as the subordination agreement for U.S. Cellular as described above under the “Revolving Credit Facilities.” As of December 31, 2017, U.S. Cellular had no outstanding consolidated funded indebtedness or refinancing indebtedness that was subordinated to the term loan facility pursuant to this subordination agreement.    
Term loan compliance U.S. Cellular believes that it was in compliance with all of the financial and other covenants and requirements set forth in its term loan credit facility as of December 31, 2017.    
U.S. Cellular Term loan facility | LIBOR rate      
Long-term debt      
Contractual spread 2.50%