$TDS
TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ Stock $tds

$tds Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2019 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000105151221000009 Filed on February 18, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2019 Q4	2018 Q4	2018
Revenue	$1.336B	$1.332B	$5.109B
YoY Change	0.3%	1.83%	1.29%
Cost Of Revenue	$629.0M	$630.0M	$2.336B
YoY Change	-0.16%	-1.1%	-0.97%
Gross Profit	$707.0M	$702.0M	$2.773B
YoY Change	0.71%	4.62%	3.28%
Gross Profit Margin	52.92%	52.7%	54.28%
Selling, General & Admin	$457.0M	$462.0M	$1.694B
YoY Change	-1.08%	5.0%	0.3%
% of Gross Profit	64.64%	65.81%	61.09%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$235.0M	$221.0M	$839.0M
YoY Change	6.33%	4.25%	2.69%
% of Gross Profit	33.24%	31.48%	30.26%
Operating Expenses	$692.0M	$683.0M	$4.904B
YoY Change	1.32%	4.75%	-4.81%
Operating Profit	$15.00M	$19.00M	$205.0M
YoY Change	-21.05%	0.0%	-289.81%
Interest Expense	$7.000M	$4.000M	$172.0M
YoY Change	75.0%	-233.33%	1.18%
% of Operating Profit	46.67%	21.05%	83.9%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$0.00	$1.000M	$16.00M
YoY Change	-100.0%	0.0%	-214.29%
Pretax Income	$15.00M	$18.00M	$221.0M
YoY Change	-16.67%	20.0%	-281.15%
Income Tax	$0.00	$14.00M	$46.00M
% Of Pretax Income	0.0%	77.78%	20.81%
Net Earnings	$11.00M	$16.00M	$135.0M
YoY Change	-31.25%	-94.43%	-11.76%
Net Earnings / Revenue	0.82%	1.2%	2.64%
Basic Earnings Per Share			$1.20
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$94.83K	$136.8K	$1.17
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding			112.0M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding			114.0M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2019 Q4	2018 Q4	2018
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$465.0M	$938.0M	$938.0M
YoY Change	-50.43%	30.46%	30.46%
Cash & Equivalents	$465.0M	$921.0M	$921.0M
Short-Term Investments	$0.00	$17.00M	$17.00M
Other Short-Term Assets	$29.00M	$28.00M	$131.0M
YoY Change	3.57%	3.7%	-5.76%
Inventory	$169.0M	$150.0M
Prepaid Expenses	$98.00M	$103.0M
Receivables	$1.005B	$992.0M	$992.0M
Other Receivables	$155.0M	$269.0M	$269.0M
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.921B	$2.330B	$2.330B
YoY Change	-17.55%	18.51%	18.51%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$3.527B	$3.346B	$3.346B
YoY Change	5.41%	-2.28%	-2.28%
Goodwill	$547.0M	$509.0M
YoY Change	7.47%	0.0%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$467.0M	$459.0M	$480.0M
YoY Change	1.74%	5.52%	5.96%
Other Assets	$607.0M	$616.0M	$670.0M
YoY Change	-1.46%	45.97%	55.09%
Total Long-Term Assets	$8.860B	$7.453B	$7.453B
YoY Change	18.88%	1.69%	1.69%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.921B	$2.330B	$2.330B
Total Long-Term Assets	$8.860B	$7.453B	$7.453B
Total Assets	$10.78B	$9.783B	$9.783B
YoY Change	10.2%	5.25%	5.25%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$374.0M	$365.0M	$365.0M
YoY Change	2.47%	-0.82%	-0.82%
Accrued Expenses	$248.0M	$138.0M	$138.0M
YoY Change	79.71%	0.73%	0.73%
Deferred Revenue	$189.0M	$197.0M
YoY Change	-4.06%	-11.66%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$10.00M	$21.00M	$21.00M
YoY Change	-52.38%	5.0%	5.0%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$962.0M	$879.0M	$879.0M
YoY Change	9.44%	-4.25%	-4.25%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$2.316B	$2.418B	$2.418B
YoY Change	-4.22%	-0.78%	-0.78%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$481.0M	$541.0M	$542.0M
YoY Change	-11.09%	9.29%	9.49%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$481.0M	$541.0M	$2.960B
YoY Change	-11.09%	9.29%	0.95%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$962.0M	$879.0M	$879.0M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$481.0M	$541.0M	$2.960B
Total Liabilities	$1.443B	$1.420B	$5.223B
YoY Change	1.62%	0.5%	3.92%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.672B	$2.656B
YoY Change	0.6%	5.19%
Common Stock	$1.000M	$1.000M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$479.0M	$519.0M
YoY Change	-7.71%	-22.42%
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$4.653B	$4.560B	$4.560B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$10.78B	$9.783B	$9.783B
YoY Change	10.2%	5.25%	5.25%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2019 Q4	2018 Q4	2018
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$11.00M	$16.00M	$135.0M
YoY Change	-31.25%	-94.43%	-11.76%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$235.0M	$221.0M	$839.0M
YoY Change	6.33%	4.25%	2.69%
Cash From Operating Activities	$142.0M	$205.0M	$1.017B
YoY Change	-30.73%	32.26%	31.06%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$326.0M	-$329.0M	-$776.0M
YoY Change	-0.91%	14.63%	13.28%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$86.00M	-$26.00M	-$2.000M
YoY Change	230.77%	62.5%	100.0%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$412.0M	-$355.0M	-$680.0M
YoY Change	16.06%	17.16%	-30.68%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net			$0.00
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net			$20.00M
YoY Change			17.65%
Cash From Financing Activities	-117.0M	10.00M	-$32.00M
YoY Change	-1270.0%	-155.56%	-58.44%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	142.0M	205.0M	$1.017B
Cash From Investing Activities	-412.0M	-355.0M	-$680.0M
Cash From Financing Activities	-117.0M	10.00M	-$32.00M
Net Change In Cash	-387.0M	-140.0M	$305.0M
YoY Change	176.43%	-15.66%	-208.16%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$142.0M	$205.0M	$1.017B
Capital Expenditures	-$326.0M	-$329.0M	-$776.0M
Free Cash Flow	$468.0M	$534.0M	$1.793B
YoY Change	-12.36%	20.81%	22.72%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2020	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001051512
CY2020	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2020
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2020	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2020	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.68
CY2019	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.66
CY2018	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.64
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1
CY2020	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2020	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2020	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2020-12-31
CY2020	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2020	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-14157
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Chicago
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	IL
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	60602
CY2020	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	(312)
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2020	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	36-2669023
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000
CY2020	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	630-1900
CY2020	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2020	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2020	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2020	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2020	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	true
CY2020	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	5225000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	5109000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	0	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	288000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	211000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	114000000	shares
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CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	175000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-27000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-12000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Investments GainLossOnInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Investments GainLossOnInvestments	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Investments GainLossOnInvestments	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	4000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	16000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	49000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	39000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Finance Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInFinanceReceivables	54000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Finance Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInFinanceReceivables	97000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Finance Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInFinanceReceivables	149000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	19000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	173000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	-60000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities	-9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities	8000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedTaxesPayable	-120000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedTaxesPayable	-17000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedTaxesPayable	-29000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	26000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1532000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1016000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1017000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	1338000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	957000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	776000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	172000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	346000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	16000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	29000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	100000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	11000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	17000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	26000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	41000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	29000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	30000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	5000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1511000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1249000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-680000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	1250000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	110000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	118000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	20000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	6000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	42000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options Subsidiary PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptionsSubsidiary	11000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options Subsidiary PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptionsSubsidiary	9000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options Subsidiary ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptionsSubsidiary	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	14000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2020	tds	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock Subsidiary PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStockSubsidiary	23000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock Subsidiary PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStockSubsidiary	21000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock Subsidiary PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStockSubsidiary	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Ordinary Dividends PaymentsOfOrdinaryDividends	78000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Ordinary Dividends PaymentsOfOrdinaryDividends	75000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Ordinary Dividends PaymentsOfOrdinaryDividends	72000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	41000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Additional Interest In Subsidiaries PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries	11000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Additional Interest In Subsidiaries PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Additional Interest In Subsidiaries PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	14000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	8000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	957000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-220000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-32000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	978000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-453000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	305000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	474000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	927000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	622000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1452000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	474000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	927000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1429000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	465000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	67000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	74000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	1004000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	1005000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	108000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	119000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	154000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	169000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	105000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	98000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	187000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	36000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	36000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	29000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3026000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1921000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2638000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2480000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	547000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	547000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	71000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	65000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	213000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	239000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	477000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	488000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	13659000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	12864000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	9687000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	9337000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3972000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3527000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	998000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	972000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	652000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	607000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	12525000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	10781000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	10000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	508000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	374000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	193000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	189000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Interest And Dividends Payable Current InterestAndDividendsPayableCurrent	16000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest And Dividends Payable Current InterestAndDividendsPayableCurrent	11000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	69000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	41000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	132000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	121000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	129000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	116000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	101000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	100000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1153000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	962000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Noncurrent LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Noncurrent LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	863000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	676000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	940000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	931000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	541000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	481000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	3424000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2316000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	10000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	11000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	290000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	290000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	133000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	133000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5593000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	114000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	115000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	2482000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	2468000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	477000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	479000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-4000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-9000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2802000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2672000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4804000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4653000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	789000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	751000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5404000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	12525000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	10781000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5404000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	226000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	43000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.68
CY2020	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	78000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	14000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Dividend Reinvestment Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	18000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Noncontrolling Interest Increase From Subsidiary Equity Issuance NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromSubsidiaryEquityIssuance	-10000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	2000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5593000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5293000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	121000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	26000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.66
CY2019	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	75000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Dividend Reinvestment Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan	15000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Noncontrolling Interest Increase From Subsidiary Equity Issuance NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromSubsidiaryEquityIssuance	12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5404000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4892000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	135000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	28000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-8000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.64
CY2018	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	72000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Dividend Reinvestment Plan StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan	12000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	59000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Noncontrolling Interest Increase From Subsidiary Equity Issuance NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromSubsidiaryEquityIssuance	55000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	3000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5293000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Number Of Wireless Connections NumberOfWirelessConnections	5000000
CY2020Q4	tds	Wireline And Cable Customer Connections WirelineAndCableCustomerConnections	1200000
CY2020	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (a) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and (b) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates are involved in accounting for goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and income taxes.
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1429000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	465000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	23000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	9000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1452000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	474000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2020Q4	tds	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2020Q4	tds	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Built Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsBuiltLicenses	1	unit
CY2020Q4	tds	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Unbuilt Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsUnbuiltLicenses	7	unit
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	213000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	227000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	230000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Before Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedBeforeAccumulatedAmortization	69000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedAccumulatedAmortization	13000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized After Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedAfterAccumulatedAmortization	56000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Expense Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostExpenseAmortization	11000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	82000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	78000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	90000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	5120000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	5076000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	5019000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	13000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	10000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	216000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	197000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	172000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	377000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	160000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	158000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	695000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1007000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1008000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	78000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	149000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	157000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	120000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	126000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	124000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	84000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	929000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	924000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	929000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	924000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Threshold Period Past Due FinancingReceivableThresholdPeriodPastDue	P30D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1007000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1008000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Originated Two Years Before Latest Fiscal Year FinancingReceivableOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear	46000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Originated In Fiscal Year Before Latest Fiscal Year FinancingReceivableOriginatedInFiscalYearBeforeLatestFiscalYear	306000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Originated In Current Fiscal Year FinancingReceivableOriginatedInCurrentFiscalYear	655000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1007000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-175000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	15000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	10000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	15000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	179000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	36000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	24000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	19000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	64000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	46000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	60000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	44000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	46000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	11000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.040
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.055
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	11000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.049
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-16000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-0.071
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	7000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.031
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-0.003
CY2020	tds	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	-60000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2020	tds	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	-0.210
CY2019	tds	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	0	USD
CY2019	tds	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	0
CY2018	tds	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	0	USD
CY2018	tds	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.030
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.019
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.041
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.006
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.019
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.006
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.007
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.010
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	19000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.064
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	64000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.303
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	46000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.210
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	183000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	168000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	144000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	132000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	257000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	251000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	81000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	74000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	109000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	106000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	630000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	599000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	158000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	152000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	472000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	447000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	652000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	481000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	287000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	261000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	235000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	226000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	17000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	22000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	1335000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	1122000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	863000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	675000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	49000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	49000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	49000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	46000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	8000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	8000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	8000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	7000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	6000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	54000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	49000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	43000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	39000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	39000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	3000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	23000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	21000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	226000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	121000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	135000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Noncontrolling Income Adjustment Earnings Per Share NoncontrollingIncomeAdjustmentEarningsPerShare	-3000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Noncontrolling Income Adjustment Earnings Per Share NoncontrollingIncomeAdjustmentEarningsPerShare	-1000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Noncontrolling Income Adjustment Earnings Per Share NoncontrollingIncomeAdjustmentEarningsPerShare	-2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	223000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	5000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	120000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	133000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	114000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	114000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	112000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	2000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	2000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	115000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	116000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	114000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.97
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.06
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.20
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.93
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.03
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.17
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	17000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	3000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	509000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	38000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	547000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	547000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	284000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	71000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	213000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	304000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	65000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	239000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	26000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	24000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	26000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	21000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	20000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	19000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	17000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	115000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	116000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	527000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2278000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2099000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1937000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1748000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	456000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	467000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value Amount EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount	21000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value Amount EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount	21000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	477000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	488000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	56000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	57000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	533000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1404000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	189000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1314000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Cable And Wire Equipment CableAndWireEquipment	2195000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Cable And Wire Equipment CableAndWireEquipment	1996000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Network And Switching Equipment NetworkAndSwitchingEquipment	2634000000	USD
CY2019Q4	tds	Network And Switching Equipment NetworkAndSwitchingEquipment	2507000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	4017000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	3708000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	394000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	387000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	174000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1709000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1604000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	528000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	590000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	13659000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-12000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	12864000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	9687000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	9337000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3972000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	3527000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	862000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	890000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	839000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-27000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	184000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	177000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	11000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	8000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	198000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	188000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P24Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.041
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	188000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	172000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	157000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	132000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	10000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P12Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P12Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P25Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.044
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.062
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.063
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	169000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	168000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	151000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	132000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	100000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	708000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	15000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	1428000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	18000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	359000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	11000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	1069000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	7000000	USD
CY2020Q4	tds	Lessee Lease Notyet Commenced Liability Incurred LesseeLeaseNotyetCommencedLiabilityIncurred	54000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	105000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	100000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Next Twelve Months LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedNextTwelveMonths	93000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Two Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears	77000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Three Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThreeYears	51000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Four Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFourYears	35000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Five Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFiveYears	16000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Thereafter LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThereafter	19000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceived	291000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	342000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	20000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	20000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	307000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Costs Incurred Asset Retirement Obligation Incurred CostsIncurredAssetRetirementObligationIncurred	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Costs Incurred Asset Retirement Obligation Incurred CostsIncurredAssetRetirementObligationIncurred	13000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	11000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	377000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	342000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	5000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	5000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	69000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	3538000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	109000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	3429000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	2398000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	72000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2326000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	10000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	3424000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2316000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	5000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	30000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Fair Value Of Plan Assets DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets	63000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation	57000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Benefit Obligation DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation	55000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Funded Status Of Plan DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan	12000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Defined Benefit Plan Funded Status Of Plan DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan	8000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Entity Maximum Loss Exposure Amount VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount	5000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Entity Maximum Loss Exposure Amount VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Financial Or Other Support Amount VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount	111000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Financial Or Other Support Amount VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount	255000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Financial Or Other Support Amount VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount	152000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	226000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	121000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	135000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Issuance Of Equity By Subsidiary To Noncontrolling Interests ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesIssuanceOfEquityBySubsidiaryToNoncontrollingInterests	38000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Issuance Of Equity By Subsidiary To Noncontrolling Interests ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesIssuanceOfEquityBySubsidiaryToNoncontrollingInterests	23000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Issuance Of Equity By Subsidiary To Noncontrolling Interests ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesIssuanceOfEquityBySubsidiaryToNoncontrollingInterests	30000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Repurchase Of Shares By Subsidiary ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesRepurchaseOfSharesBySubsidiary	14000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Repurchase Of Shares By Subsidiary ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesRepurchaseOfSharesBySubsidiary	6000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Repurchase Of Shares By Subsidiary ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesRepurchaseOfSharesBySubsidiary	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Purchase Of Interest By Parent ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParent	-9000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Purchase Of Interest By Parent ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParent	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Purchase Of Interest By Parent ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesPurchaseOfInterestByParent	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Net ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesNet	33000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Net ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesNet	17000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Changes Net ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangesNet	30000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Change Due To Net Income Attributable To Parent And Effects Of Changes Net ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangeDueToNetIncomeAttributableToParentAndEffectsOfChangesNet	193000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Change Due To Net Income Attributable To Parent And Effects Of Changes Net ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangeDueToNetIncomeAttributableToParentAndEffectsOfChangesNet	104000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Change Due To Net Income Attributable To Parent And Effects Of Changes Net ConsolidationLessThanWhollyOwnedSubsidiaryParentOwnershipInterestChangeDueToNetIncomeAttributableToParentAndEffectsOfChangesNet	105000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Fair Value RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityFairValue	20000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount	6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	5225000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	53000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	59000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	54000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	13000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	15000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	14000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	40000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	44000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	40000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	55000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P2Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1681000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	909000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	53000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	59000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	54000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromExerciseOfStockOptions	10000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-27000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	259000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	181000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	15000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Investments GainLossOnInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	168000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	288000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	19000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	269000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	909000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-27000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Investments GainLossOnInvestments	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	168000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	19000000	USD
CY2020	tds	Adjusted Ebitda AdjustedEbitda	1385000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	477000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	12525000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Additions PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAdditions	1317000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	5176000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1717000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	932000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	179000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	168000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	29000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	165000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	211000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	64000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	147000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	932000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	165000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	64000000	USD
CY2019	tds	Adjusted Ebitda AdjustedEbitda	1319000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	488000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	10781000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Additions PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAdditions	1032000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	5109000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1694000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	883000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	18000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	205000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	160000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	26000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	172000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	221000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	46000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	175000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	883000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	18000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	172000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	46000000	USD
CY2018	tds	Adjusted Ebitda AdjustedEbitda	1267000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	480000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	9783000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Additions PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAdditions	767000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	160000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	162000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	168000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-23000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	44000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	40000000	USD

Files In Submission

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0001051512-21-000009.txt	Edgar Link	pending
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tds202010-kexhibit414.htm	Edgar Link	pending

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$TDS
TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ Stock $tds

2019 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000105151221000009 Filed on February 18, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$TDS TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ Stock $tds

2019 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000105151221000009 Filed on February 18, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$TDS
TELEPHONE & DATA SYSTEMS INC /DE/ Stock $tds