XML 74 R45.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Revenue Recognition - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Jan. 01, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in accounting policy |  | $ 176,000,000 |  |
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities | $ 67,000,000 | 58,000,000 | $ 64,000,000 |
Bad debts expense | 95,000,000 | 89,000,000 | $ 96,000,000 |
Capitalized contract cost |  |  |  |
Capitalized contract cost related to commission fees | 139,000,000 |  |  |
Amortization of contract cost assets | 108,000,000 |  |  |
Impairment of capitalized contract cost | $ 0 |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |
Capitalized contract cost |  |  |  |
Capitalized contract cost, amortization period | 14 months |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |
Capitalized contract cost |  |  |  |
Capitalized contract cost, amortization period | 30 months |  |  |
Revenue from contract with customer |  |  |  |
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Bad debts expense | $ 94,000,000 |  |  |
Retained earnings |  |  |  |
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in accounting policy |  | $ 175,000,000 |  |
ASU 2014-09 | Retained earnings |  |  |  |
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in accounting policy |  |  |  | $ 175,000,000

X
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amortization period of cost capitalized in obtaining or fulfilling contract with customer, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131251-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of impairment loss for asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment loss, of asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CapitalizedContractCostNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after tax of increase (decrease) to equity or (increase) decrease to net assets, resulting from the cumulative effect adjustment of a new accounting principle applied in the period of adoption. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 606 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130534-203044 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RevenueInitialApplicationPeriodCumulativeEffectTransitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total Universal Service Funds and other surcharges recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | usm_AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities
Namespace Prefix: | usm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | usm_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerAxis=us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |