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Revenue Recognition - Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |
Customers and agents, less allowances |  | $ 908 | $ 775 |  |
Prepaid expenses |  | 63 | 79 |  |
Other current assets |  | 34 | 21 |  |
Total current assets |  | 1,812 | 1,483 |  |
Licenses |  | 2,186 | 2,223 |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 441 | 415 |  |
Other assets and deferred charges |  | 579 | 390 |  |
Total assets | [1] | 7,274 | 6,841 |  |
Customer deposits and deferred revenues |  | 157 | 185 |  |
Other current liabilities |  | 94 | 90 |  |
Total current liabilities |  | 691 | 733 |  |
Deferred income tax liability, net |  | 510 | 461 |  |
Other deferred liabilities and credits |  | 389 | 337 |  |
Retained earnings |  | 2,444 | 2,157 |  |
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity |  | 4,057 | 3,677 |  |
Noncontrolling interests |  | 10 | 10 |  |
Total equity |  | 4,067 | 3,687 | $ 3,645 | $ 3,571
Total liabilities and equity | [1] | 7,274 | $ 6,841 |  |
Results under prior accounting standards |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |
Customers and agents, less allowances |  | 844 |  |  |
Prepaid expenses |  | 88 |  |  |
Other current assets |  | 31 |  |  |
Total current assets |  | 1,769 |  |  |
Licenses |  | 2,185 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 424 |  |  |
Other assets and deferred charges |  | 418 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 7,052 |  |  |
Customer deposits and deferred revenues |  | 178 |  |  |
Other current liabilities |  | 90 |  |  |
Total current liabilities |  | 708 |  |  |
Deferred income tax liability, net |  | 459 |  |  |
Other deferred liabilities and credits |  | 371 |  |  |
Retained earnings |  | 2,275 |  |  |
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity |  | 3,888 |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests |  | 9 |  |  |
Total equity |  | 3,897 |  |  |
Total liabilities and equity |  | 7,052 |  |  |
Adjustment | ASU 2014-09 |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  |  |  |  |
Customers and agents, less allowances |  | 64 |  |  |
Prepaid expenses |  | (25) |  |  |
Other current assets |  | 3 |  |  |
Total current assets |  | 43 |  |  |
Licenses |  | 1 |  |  |
Investments in unconsolidated entities |  | 17 |  |  |
Other assets and deferred charges |  | 161 |  |  |
Total assets |  | 222 |  |  |
Customer deposits and deferred revenues |  | (21) |  |  |
Other current liabilities |  | 4 |  |  |
Total current liabilities |  | (17) |  |  |
Deferred income tax liability, net |  | 51 |  |  |
Other deferred liabilities and credits |  | 18 |  |  |
Retained earnings |  | 169 |  |  |
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity |  | 169 |  |  |
Noncontrolling interests |  | 1 |  |  |
Total equity |  | 170 |  |  |
Total liabilities and equity |  | $ 222 |  |  |
[1] | The consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $868 million and $785 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of U.S. Cellular. The consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $23 million and $24 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular. See Note 13 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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