$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

$usm Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2019 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113020000018 Filed on February 25, 2020

Income Statement

Concept	2019 Q1	2019	2018 Q4
Revenue	$966.0M	$4.022B	$1.051B
YoY Change	2.55%	1.39%	2.24%
Cost Of Revenue	$409.0M	$1.784B	$507.0M
YoY Change	2.76%	-0.28%	0.4%
Gross Profit	$557.0M	$2.238B	$544.0M
YoY Change	2.39%	2.75%	4.02%
Gross Profit Margin	57.66%	55.64%	51.76%
Selling, General & Admin	$326.0M	$1.406B	$374.0M
YoY Change	0.0%	1.3%	0.81%
% of Gross Profit	58.53%	62.82%	68.75%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$169.0M	$689.0M	$162.0M
YoY Change	6.29%	9.89%	4.52%
% of Gross Profit	30.34%	30.79%	29.78%
Operating Expenses	$902.0M	$3.910B	$536.0M
YoY Change	2.85%	2.65%	1.9%
Operating Profit	$64.00M	$112.0M	$8.000M
YoY Change	-1.54%	-29.11%	-366.67%
Interest Expense	$29.00M	$110.0M	$15.00M
YoY Change	0.0%	-5.17%	50.0%
% of Operating Profit	45.31%	98.21%	187.5%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$21.00M	$73.00M	-$1.000M
YoY Change	75.0%	28.07%	0.0%
Pretax Income	$85.00M	$185.0M	$17.00M
YoY Change	10.39%	-13.95%	183.33%
Income Tax	$27.00M	$52.00M	-$4.000M
% Of Pretax Income	31.76%	28.11%	-23.53%
Net Earnings	$54.00M	$127.0M	$21.00M
YoY Change	20.0%	-15.33%	-92.31%
Net Earnings / Revenue	5.59%	3.16%	2.0%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.63	$1.47
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.62	$1.44	$233.3K
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	86.00M shares	86.00M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	88.00M shares	88.00M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2019 Q1	2019	2018 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$665.0M	$285.0M	$597.0M
YoY Change	30.65%	-52.26%	48.51%
Cash & Equivalents	$648.0M	$285.0M	$580.0M
Short-Term Investments	$17.00M	$0.00	$17.00M
Other Short-Term Assets	$29.00M	$70.00M	$19.00M
YoY Change	-70.41%	-27.84%	-9.52%
Inventory	$157.0M	$162.0M	$142.0M
Prepaid Expenses	$50.00M		$63.00M
Receivables	$882.0M	$947.0M	$908.0M
Other Receivables	$38.00M	$109.0M	$46.00M
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.839B	$1.573B	$1.812B
YoY Change	15.59%	-13.19%	22.18%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$2.137B	$3.107B	$2.202B
YoY Change	-4.3%	41.1%	-5.09%
Goodwill
YoY Change
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$460.0M	$447.0M	$434.0M
YoY Change	2.22%	1.36%	5.6%
Other Assets	$567.0M	$566.0M	$579.0M
YoY Change	4.42%	-10.58%	48.46%
Total Long-Term Assets	$6.390B	$6.591B	$5.462B
YoY Change	17.1%	20.67%	1.94%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.839B	$1.573B	$1.812B
Total Long-Term Assets	$6.390B	$6.591B	$5.462B
Total Assets	$8.229B	$8.164B	$7.274B
YoY Change	16.76%	12.24%	6.33%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$364.0M	$304.0M	$313.0M
YoY Change	32.36%	-2.88%	0.97%
Accrued Expenses	$175.0M	$211.0M	$108.0M
YoY Change	73.27%	95.37%	-16.92%
Deferred Revenue			$157.0M
YoY Change			-15.14%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$19.00M	$8.000M	$19.00M
YoY Change	5.56%	-57.89%	5.56%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$802.0M	$750.0M	$691.0M
YoY Change	30.19%	8.54%	-5.73%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$1.601B	$1.502B	$1.605B
YoY Change	-1.05%	-6.42%	-1.05%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$292.0M	$1.184B	$389.0M
YoY Change	-18.66%	203.59%	15.43%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$292.0M	$2.686B	$389.0M
YoY Change	-85.23%	34.64%	15.43%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$802.0M	$750.0M	$691.0M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$292.0M	$2.686B	$389.0M
Total Liabilities	$1.094B	$3.967B	$1.080B
YoY Change	-65.17%	23.31%	0.93%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.497B		$2.444B
YoY Change			13.31%
Common Stock	$88.00M		$88.00M
YoY Change			0.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$63.00M		$65.00M
YoY Change			-45.83%
Treasury Stock Shares			2.000M shares
Shareholders Equity	$4.121B	$4.197B	$4.057B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$8.229B	$8.164B	$7.274B
YoY Change	16.76%	12.24%	6.33%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2019 Q1	2019	2018 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$54.00M	$127.0M	$21.00M
YoY Change	20.0%	-15.33%	-92.31%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$169.0M	$689.0M	$162.0M
YoY Change	6.29%	9.89%	4.52%
Cash From Operating Activities	$287.0M	$724.0M	$109.0M
YoY Change	52.66%	2.12%	45.33%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$108.0M	-$916.0M	-$241.0M
YoY Change	40.26%	76.15%	13.15%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$1.000M	$2.000M	-$20.00M
YoY Change		-300.0%	-1100.0%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$212.0M	-$864.0M	-$261.0M
YoY Change	821.74%	86.21%	23.7%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net	$0.00	$21.00M
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net	$5.000M	$116.0M
YoY Change	0.0%	510.53%
Cash From Financing Activities	-$6.000M	-$152.0M	3.000M
YoY Change	-14.29%	985.71%	-130.0%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	$287.0M	$724.0M	109.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	-$212.0M	-$864.0M	-261.0M
Cash From Financing Activities	-$6.000M	-$152.0M	3.000M
Net Change In Cash	$69.00M	-$292.0M	-149.0M
YoY Change	-56.33%	-226.41%	2.05%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$287.0M	$724.0M	$109.0M
Capital Expenditures	-$108.0M	-$916.0M	-$241.0M
Free Cash Flow	$395.0M	$1.640B	$350.0M
YoY Change	49.06%	33.44%	21.53%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	51000000	USD
CY2019	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2019	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2019
CY2019	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000821130
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	66000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	70000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	190000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	190000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	88000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	88000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Related Party Transaction Expenses From Transactions With Related Party RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty	85000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Related Party Transaction Expenses From Transactions With Related Party RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty	86000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Related Party Transaction Expenses From Transactions With Related Party RelatedPartyTransactionExpensesFromTransactionsWithRelatedParty	82000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1
CY2019	usm	Fcc Licenses Periodof Renewal FCCLicensesPeriodofRenewal	P12Y
CY2019	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2019	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2019	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2019-12-31
CY2019	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2019	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-09712
CY2019	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
CY2019	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2019	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	62-1147325
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	8410 West Bryn Mawr
CY2019	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Chicago
CY2019	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	IL
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	60631
CY2019	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	(773)
CY2019	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	399-8900
CY2019	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	No
CY2019	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2019	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2019	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2019Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	703000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Share Price SharePrice	44.67
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	4022000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3967000000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-17000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3890000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1406000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1388000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1412000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	702000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	640000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	615000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	370000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-19000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-10000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	1000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	18000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	22000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	3910000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	3809000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	4194000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	112000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	158000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-304000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	166000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	159000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	137000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	17000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	15000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	8000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	110000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	116000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	113000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-1000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	73000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	57000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	32000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	185000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	215000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	-272000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	640000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	615000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-287000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	133000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	164000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	15000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	6000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	14000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	127000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	150000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	85000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.47
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CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.14
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	88000000	shares
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CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.44
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CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	133000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	164000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	15000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	702000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	107000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	95000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	89000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	41000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	37000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	30000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-365000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	166000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	159000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	137000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	161000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	152000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	136000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	370000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-19000000	USD
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CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	22000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-4000000	USD
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CY2017	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	46000000	USD
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CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	68000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Finance Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInFinanceReceivables	97000000	USD
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CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Finance Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInFinanceReceivables	261000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	20000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	4000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	-69000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	3000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Trade IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableTrade	-14000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities	-8000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities	7000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredLiabilities	-3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedTaxesPayable	-23000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedTaxesPayable	-39000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedTaxesPayable	26000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-9000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-40000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	724000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	709000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	469000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	650000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	512000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	465000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	266000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	41000000	USD
CY2018	usm	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	8000000	USD
CY2017	usm	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	189000000	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	50000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	11000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	17000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	50000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	24000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	21000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	7000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	1000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-864000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-464000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-683000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	116000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	19000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	14000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	-9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	18000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	21000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	6000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-7000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-152000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-14000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-20000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-292000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	231000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-234000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	583000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	352000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	586000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	162000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	291000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	583000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	352000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	285000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Due From Affiliate Current DueFromAffiliateCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	63000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	46000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	580000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	17000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	919000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	908000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Receivables Net Current Roaming ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	27000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Receivables Net Current Roaming ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	20000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Due From Affiliate Current DueFromAffiliateCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	142000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	50000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	63000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	46000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	15000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	20000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	19000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1573000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1812000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	54000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2471000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2186000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	447000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	441000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8293000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	7778000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6086000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5576000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2207000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2202000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	900000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	566000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	579000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	8164000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	7274000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	8000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Due To Affiliate Current DueToAffiliateCurrent	8000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Due To Affiliate Current DueToAffiliateCurrent	9000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	296000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	19000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	865000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	304000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue And Credits Current DeferredRevenueAndCreditsCurrent	148000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue And Credits Current DeferredRevenueAndCreditsCurrent	157000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	30000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	30000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	76000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	78000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	105000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	79000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	94000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	750000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	691000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Noncurrent LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Noncurrent LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	507000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	510000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	319000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	389000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1502000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1605000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	11000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	11000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	88000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	88000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	1629000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	1590000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	70000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	65000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2550000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2444000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4197000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4057000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	13000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	10000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4210000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4067000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	8164000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7274000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Assets Pledged VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedAssetsPledged	930000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Assets Pledged VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedAssetsPledged	868000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Liabilities No Recourse VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedLiabilitiesNoRecourse	22000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Consolidated Liabilities No Recourse VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedLiabilitiesNoRecourse	23000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4067000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cumulative Effect Of New Accounting Principle In Period Of Adoption CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	127000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	21000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	-9000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	41000000	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	4210000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3687000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cumulative Effect Of New Accounting Principle In Period Of Adoption CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	176000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	150000000	USD
CY2018	usm	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	18000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	37000000	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	4067000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3645000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12000000	USD
CY2017	usm	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	3000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	30000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	4000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3687000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Number Of Connections NumberOfConnections	4900000	connection
CY2019	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	segment
CY2019	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:12px;padding-top:0px;font-size:9pt;"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:9pt;color:#000000;">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 indefinite-lived intangible assets and income taxes.</span></div>
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	285000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	580000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	6000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	291000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	583000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2019Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2019Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Built Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsBuiltLicenses	1	unit
CY2019Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Unbuilt Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsUnbuiltLicenses	7	unit
CY2019Q4	usm	Asset Groups AssetGroups	1	asset_group
CY2019Q4	usm	Accrued Agent Commission Current AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent	59000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Accrued Agent Commission Current AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent	63000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	212000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	215000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	211000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	53000000	USD
CY2018	usm	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	67000000	USD
CY2017	usm	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	58000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	3948000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	3901000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	7000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	9000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	154000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	147000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	128000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	206000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	90000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	160000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	456000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	133000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	139000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	109000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	108000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1008000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	974000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	84000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	77000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	924000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	897000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	924000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	897000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1008000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	974000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	44000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	48000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	68000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	12000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	6000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	10000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-354000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-11000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	51000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit Continuing Operations Adjustment Of Deferred Tax Asset Liability IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperationsAdjustmentOfDeferredTaxAssetLiability	-4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	39000000	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	45000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	-95000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.350
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CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Minority Interest Income Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMinorityInterestIncomeExpense	0.005
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CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.040
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CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.014
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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
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CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-0.020
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-254000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0.933
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	0.036
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CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-0.003
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-5000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.019
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CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	0
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	71000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	-0.262
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CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.013
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.018
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	4000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	-0.015
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.015
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	0	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.008
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	365000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	178000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	284000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	455000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	253000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	90000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	75000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.003
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-2000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.007
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.281
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	51000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.237
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-287000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	1.055
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-4000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-254000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Impairment Losses IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseImpairmentLosses	71000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	96000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	96000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	230000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	45000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	43000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	84000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	114000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	299000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	230000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	207000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	131000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	133000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	206000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	21000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	49000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	872000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	688000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	507000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	510000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	48000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	47000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	43000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	7000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	6000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	6000000	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	1000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	6000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1000000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	48000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	48000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	47000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	37000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	38000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	38000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	3000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	21000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	19000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	127000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	150000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	85000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	2000000	shares
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CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	88000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	87000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.47
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.75
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.14
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.44
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.72
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.14
CY2018	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	3000000	shares
CY2019	usm	Fcc License Auction Total Winning Bid FccLicenseAuctionTotalWinningBid	256000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Fcc License Auction Total Winning Bid FccLicenseAuctionTotalWinningBid	256000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	370000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	105000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	105000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2060000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	1892000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1725000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1563000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	440000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	434000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	7000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	7000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	447000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	441000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Current Assets EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets	1477000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Current Assets EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentAssets	1261000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Noncurrent Assets EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets	5725000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Noncurrent Assets EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentAssets	4962000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Assets EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets	7202000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Assets EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationAssets	6223000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Current Liabilities EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities	625000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Current Liabilities EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCurrentLiabilities	434000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Noncurrent Liabilities EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities	1119000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Noncurrent Liabilities EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNoncurrentLiabilities	395000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Equity EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationEquity	5458000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Equity EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationEquity	5394000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Liabilities And Equity EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilitiesAndEquity	7202000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Liabilities And Equity EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationLiabilitiesAndEquity	6223000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Revenue EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue	6903000000	USD
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CY2017	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Revenue EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue	6562000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Cost Of Sales EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales	5022000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Cost Of Sales EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales	4965000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Cost Of Sales EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales	4965000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Gross Profit Loss EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss	1881000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Gross Profit Loss EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss	1812000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Gross Profit Loss EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss	1597000000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	35000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	35000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	295000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	296000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1280000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1210000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	3708000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	3460000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Switching Equipment SwitchingEquipment	1051000000	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Switching Equipment SwitchingEquipment	1018000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	280000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	285000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	48000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	51000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1238000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1149000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2207000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	358000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	274000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8293000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	7778000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6086000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5576000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2202000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	689000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	627000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	604000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-19000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-10000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-17000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	63000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	50000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	899000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	579000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	567000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	101000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	94000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	86000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	878000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	389000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	292000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	163000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	7000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	171000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	156000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	125000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P13Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P25Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.044
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.070
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	144000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	145000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	129000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	112000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	95000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	712000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	11000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	1337000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	14000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	367000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	10000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	970000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	4000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Lessee Lease Notyet Commenced Liability Incurred LesseeLeaseNotyetCommencedLiabilityIncurred	27000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	74000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Next Twelve Months LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedNextTwelveMonths	60000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Two Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears	55000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Three Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThreeYears	42000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Four Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFourYears	30000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Five Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFiveYears	15000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Thereafter LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThereafter	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceived	205000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	154000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableCurrent	58000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	143000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInTwoYears	47000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	128000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInThreeYears	34000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	112000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInFourYears	22000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	97000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInFiveYears	10000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	769000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableThereafter	3000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	1403000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Receivable OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivable	174000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	173000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	166000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	203000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	183000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	8000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	14000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	12000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Asset Retirement Obligation Transferredto Liabilitiesheldforsale AssetRetirementObligationTransferredtoLiabilitiesheldforsale	0	USD
CY2018	usm	Asset Retirement Obligation Transferredto Liabilitiesheldforsale AssetRetirementObligationTransferredtoLiabilitiesheldforsale	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	220000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	203000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	1555000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	45000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1510000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	1671000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	47000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1624000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	8000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	19000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1502000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1605000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	8000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	83000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Next Rolling Twelve Months UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInNextRollingTwelveMonths	924000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Rolling Year Two UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInRollingYearTwo	436000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Rolling Year Three UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInRollingYearThree	748000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Rolling Year Four UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInRollingYearFour	61000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Rolling Year Five UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInRollingYearFive	39000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due In Rolling After Year Five UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueInRollingAfterYearFive	36000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Balance Sheet Amount UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceSheetAmount	2244000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	19000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	0	USD
CY2018Q4	usm	Fcc License Auction Percentof Bid Creditin Each Auction FCCLicenseAuctionPercentofBidCreditinEachAuction	0.25
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
CY2017	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Financial Or Other Support Amount VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount	821000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Fair Value RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityFairValue	36000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount	15000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	37000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	30000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	10000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	9000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	11000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	31000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	28000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	37000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	30000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	29000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P1Y9M18D
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromExerciseOfStockOptions	7000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	107000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	113000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	111000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	78000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	90000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	55000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	29000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	10000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	11000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	-9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	18000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	1000000	USD

Files In Submission

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$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

2019 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113020000018 Filed on February 25, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$USM UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

2019 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113020000018 Filed on February 25, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm