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Stock-Based Compensation - Performance and Deferred Stock Units (Details) - Common Shares - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Performance Shares |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Award vesting period | 3 years |  |
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares rollforward, number of shares |  |  |
Nonvested stock units, begin of period - Number of shares (in shares) | 768,000 |  |
Granted number of shares (in shares) | 323,000 |  |
Vested number of shares (in shares) | (5,000) |  |
Change in units based on approved performance factors number of shares | 188,000 |  |
Forfeited number of shares (in shares) | (29,000) |  |
Nonvested stock units, end of period - Number of shares (in shares) | 1,245,000 | 768,000 |
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value |  |  |
Nonvested stock units - begin of period weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share) | $ 37.78 |  |
Granted weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share) | 46.43 | $ 38.81 | $ 36.92
Vested weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share) | 37.92 |  |
Change in units based on approved performance factors weighted average grant date fair value | 38.81 |  |
Forfeited weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share) | 38.55 |  |
Nonvested stock units - end of period weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share) | $ 40.16 | $ 37.78 |
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans |  |  |
Fair value of vested stock units |  | $ 0 | $ 0
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Performance Shares | Minimum |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Performance share awards target | 50.00% |  |
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Performance Shares | Maximum |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Performance share awards target | 200.00% |  |
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans |  |  |
Fair value of vested stock units | $ 1,000,000 |  |
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Award vesting period | 3 years |  |
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value |  |  |
Granted weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share) | $ 0 | $ 40.72 | $ 36.02
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans |  |  |
Percent of match up to 50% from annual bonus | 25.00% |  |
Percent of match above 50% from annual bonus | 33.00% |  |
Vested number of shares, unissued | 34,000 |  |
Vested number of shares, unissued, fair value | $ 1,000,000 |  |
Long-Term Incentive Plans | Deferred Compensation Stock Units | Maximum |  |  |
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans |  |  |
Fair value of vested stock units | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000 | $ 1,000,000
U S Cellular | Non-Employee Directors' Plan |  |  |
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans |  |  |
Shares issued (in shares) | 13,000 | 18,000 | 15,000

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- Definition The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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