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Debt - Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Jul. 31, 2015
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | $ 1,671,000,000 | $ 1,689,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 47,000,000 | 49,000,000 |
Total long-term debt | 1,624,000,000 | 1,640,000,000 |
Current portion of long-term debt | 19,000,000 | 18,000,000 |
Long-term debt, net | 1,605,000,000 | 1,622,000,000 |
Long-term debt maturities |  |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2019 | 19,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2020 | 19,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2021 | 11,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2022 | 158,000,000 |  |
Scheduled principal payments 2023 (less than) | $ 1,000,000 |  |
6.7% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.70% |  |
Redemption price, percentage | 100.00% |  |
Principal amount | $ 544,000,000 | 544,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 14,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
Long term debt | $ 530,000,000 | 529,000,000 |
6.95% Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 6.95% |  |
Principal amount | $ 342,000,000 | 342,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 11,000,000 | 11,000,000 |
Long term debt | $ 331,000,000 | 331,000,000 |
7.25% 2063 Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.25% |  |
Principal amount | $ 275,000,000 | 275,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
Long term debt | $ 265,000,000 | 265,000,000 |
7.25% 2064 Senior Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Interest rate on debt | 7.25% |  |
Principal amount | $ 300,000,000 | 300,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
Long term debt | $ 290,000,000 | 290,000,000 |
Callable Notes |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Redemption price, percentage | 100.00% |  |
U.S. Cellular Term loan facility |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | $ 191,000,000 | 203,000,000 | $ 225,000,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
Long term debt | 190,000,000 | 201,000,000 |
Capital lease obligations |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | 5,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 0 | 0 |
Capital lease obligations | 5,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
Installment payment agreement |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |
Principal amount | 14,000,000 | 21,000,000 |
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Long term debt | $ 13,000,000 | $ 20,000,000 |

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