$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

$usm Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2019 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113021000008 Filed on February 18, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2019 Q4	2018	2017 Q4
Revenue	$1.052B	$3.967B	$1.028B
YoY Change	0.1%	1.98%	2.29%
Cost Of Revenue	$492.0M	$1.789B	$505.0M
YoY Change	-2.96%	-0.78%	7.45%
Gross Profit	$560.0M	$2.178B	$523.0M
YoY Change	2.94%	4.36%	-2.24%
Gross Profit Margin	53.23%	54.9%	50.88%
Selling, General & Admin	$379.0M	$1.388B	$371.0M
YoY Change	1.34%	-1.7%	-5.12%
% of Gross Profit	67.68%	63.73%	70.94%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$178.0M	$627.0M	$155.0M
YoY Change	9.88%	3.81%	-0.64%
% of Gross Profit	31.79%	28.79%	29.64%
Operating Expenses	$557.0M	$3.809B	$526.0M
YoY Change	3.92%	-9.18%	-3.84%
Operating Profit	$3.000M	$158.0M	-$3.000M
YoY Change	-62.5%	-151.97%	-75.0%
Interest Expense	$18.00M	$116.0M	$10.00M
YoY Change	20.0%	2.65%	233.33%
% of Operating Profit	600.0%	73.42%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$0.00	$57.00M	-$1.000M
YoY Change	-100.0%	78.13%	-200.0%
Pretax Income	$15.00M	$215.0M	$6.000M
YoY Change	-11.76%	-179.04%	-154.55%
Income Tax	-$3.000M	$51.00M	$1.000M
% Of Pretax Income	-20.0%	23.72%	16.67%
Net Earnings	$18.00M	$150.0M	$273.0M
YoY Change	-14.29%	1150.0%	-5560.0%
Net Earnings / Revenue	1.71%	3.78%	26.56%
Basic Earnings Per Share		$1.75
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$204.5K	$1.72	$3.067M
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding		86.00M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		87.00M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2019 Q4	2018	2017 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$285.0M	$597.0M	$402.0M
YoY Change	-52.26%	48.51%	-31.4%
Cash & Equivalents	$285.0M	$580.0M	$352.0M
Short-Term Investments	$0.00	$17.00M	$50.00M
Other Short-Term Assets	$20.00M	$97.00M	$21.00M
YoY Change	5.26%	-3.0%	-80.37%
Inventory	$162.0M	$142.0M	$138.0M
Prepaid Expenses	$50.00M		$79.00M
Receivables	$919.0M	$930.0M	$775.0M
Other Receivables	$109.0M	$46.00M	$41.00M
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.573B	$1.812B	$1.483B
YoY Change	-13.19%	22.18%	-4.81%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$2.207B	$2.202B	$2.320B
YoY Change	0.23%	-5.09%	-6.07%
Goodwill			$0.00
YoY Change
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$440.0M	$441.0M	$411.0M
YoY Change	1.38%	6.27%	-0.48%
Other Assets	$566.0M	$633.0M	$390.0M
YoY Change	-2.25%	58.25%	-5.57%
Total Long-Term Assets	$6.591B	$5.462B	$5.358B
YoY Change	20.67%	1.94%	-3.49%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.573B	$1.812B	$1.483B
Total Long-Term Assets	$6.591B	$5.462B	$5.358B
Total Assets	$8.164B	$7.274B	$6.841B
YoY Change	12.24%	6.33%	-3.78%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$304.0M	$313.0M	$310.0M
YoY Change	-2.88%	0.97%	-3.43%
Accrued Expenses	$211.0M	$108.0M	$130.0M
YoY Change	95.37%	-16.92%	16.07%
Deferred Revenue	$148.0M		$185.0M
YoY Change	-5.73%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$8.000M	$19.00M	$18.00M
YoY Change	-57.89%	5.56%	63.64%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$750.0M	$691.0M	$733.0M
YoY Change	8.54%	-5.73%	2.09%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$1.502B	$1.605B	$1.622B
YoY Change	-6.42%	-1.05%	0.25%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$319.0M	$390.0M	$337.0M
YoY Change	-17.99%	15.73%	11.59%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$319.0M	$1.995B	$337.0M
YoY Change	-17.99%	1.84%	-82.45%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$750.0M	$691.0M	$733.0M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$319.0M	$1.995B	$337.0M
Total Liabilities	$1.069B	$3.217B	$1.070B
YoY Change	-1.02%	1.68%	-69.22%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.550B		$2.157B
YoY Change	4.34%
Common Stock	$88.00M		$88.00M
YoY Change	0.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$70.00M		$120.0M
YoY Change	7.69%
Treasury Stock Shares			3.000M shares
Shareholders Equity	$4.197B	$4.057B	$3.677B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$8.164B	$7.274B	$6.841B
YoY Change	12.24%	6.33%	-3.78%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2019 Q4	2018	2017 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$18.00M	$150.0M	$273.0M
YoY Change	-14.29%	1150.0%	-5560.0%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$178.0M	$627.0M	$155.0M
YoY Change	9.88%	3.81%	-0.64%
Cash From Operating Activities	$37.00M	$709.0M	$75.00M
YoY Change	-66.06%	51.17%	-12.79%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$220.0M	-$520.0M	-$213.0M
YoY Change	-8.71%	-20.49%	30.67%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$3.000M	-$1.000M	$2.000M
YoY Change	-115.0%		-133.33%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$217.0M	-$464.0M	-$211.0M
YoY Change	-16.86%	-32.06%	24.85%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net		$0.00
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net		$19.00M
YoY Change		35.71%
Cash From Financing Activities	-104.0M	-$14.00M	-10.00M
YoY Change	-3566.67%	-30.0%	100.0%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	37.00M	$709.0M	75.00M
Cash From Investing Activities	-217.0M	-$464.0M	-211.0M
Cash From Financing Activities	-104.0M	-$14.00M	-10.00M
Net Change In Cash	-284.0M	$231.0M	-146.0M
YoY Change	90.6%	-198.72%	65.91%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$37.00M	$709.0M	$75.00M
Capital Expenditures	-$220.0M	-$520.0M	-$213.0M
Free Cash Flow	$257.0M	$1.229B	$288.0M
YoY Change	-26.57%	9.44%	15.66%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2020	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000821130
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	usm	Fcc Licenses Periodof Renewal FCCLicensesPeriodofRenewal	P12Y
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	001-09712
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2020	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	62-1147325
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	8410 West Bryn Mawr
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3967000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1368000000	USD
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Chicago
CY2019	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1406000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1388000000	USD
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	IL
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	60631
CY2020	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	(773)
CY2020	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	399-8900
CY2020	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	No
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	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
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CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.066
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	4037000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	250000000	USD
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CY2019	usm	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	266000000	USD
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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
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	24000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	30000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	5000000	USD
CY2018	usm	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-3000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-1163000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	1125000000	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	108000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	116000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	19000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	-11000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	23000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	38000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	6000000	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	-2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	926000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	1000000000	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
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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1291000000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1271000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	285000000	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	62000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	70000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	915000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	919000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Receivables Net Current Roaming ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	13000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Receivables Net Current Roaming ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	27000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Due From Affiliate Current DueFromAffiliateCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Due From Affiliate Current DueFromAffiliateCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	70000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	63000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	146000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	162000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	51000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	50000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	125000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	46000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	29000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	20000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	2623000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1573000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2629000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2471000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	435000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	447000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8785000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8293000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6319000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6086000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2466000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2207000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	924000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	900000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	602000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	566000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	9681000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	8164000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	8000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Due To Affiliate Current DueToAffiliateCurrent	10000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Due To Affiliate Current DueToAffiliateCurrent	8000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	377000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	296000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	151000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	148000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	48000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	30000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	82000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	76000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	116000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	105000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	85000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	79000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	871000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	750000000	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	633000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	507000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	875000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	865000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	376000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	319000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2489000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1502000000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	190000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	190000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	88000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	88000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	88000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	88000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	1651000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	1629000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	67000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	70000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2739000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2550000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4411000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4197000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	15000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	13000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4426000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4210000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	9681000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	8164000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4210000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	229000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	4000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	23000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	20000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Noncontrolling Interest Increase From Sale Of Parent Equity Interest NoncontrollingInterestIncreaseFromSaleOfParentEquityInterest	-6000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4426000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4067000000	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	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	21000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	32000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	3687000000	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	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	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	4067000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Number Of Connections NumberOfConnections	5000000	connection
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	segment
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 indefinite-lived intangible assets and income taxes.
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1271000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	285000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	20000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	6000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1291000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	291000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	196000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	212000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2020Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Built Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsBuiltLicenses	1	unit
CY2020Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2020Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Unbuilt Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsUnbuiltLicenses	7	unit
CY2020Q4	usm	Asset Groups AssetGroups	1	asset_group
CY2020Q4	usm	Accrued Agent Commission Current AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent	55000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Accrued Agent Commission Current AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent	59000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	215000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Before Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedBeforeAccumulatedAmortization	67000000	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	54000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Expense Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostExpenseAmortization	11000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	56000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	3960000000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	10000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	7000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	171000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	154000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	134000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	240000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	96000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	120000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	456000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	124000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	133000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	104000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	109000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	108000000	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 Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	78000000	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	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	-118000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	44000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	48000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	5000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-1000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	124000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	51000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	52000000	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	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	8000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.034
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	6000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.034
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	9000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.040
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	-4000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-0.020
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	0.001
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
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-0.003
CY2020	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	-49000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	-0.198
CY2019	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	0	USD
CY2019	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	0
CY2018	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	0	USD
CY2018	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.026
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	2000000	USD
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.001
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	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.001
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.006
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.003
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.007
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.066
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	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
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	107000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	90000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	383000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	365000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	96000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	236000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	230000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	51000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	45000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	83000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	84000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	477000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	455000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	94000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	391000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	284000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	256000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	230000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	143000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	131000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	215000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	206000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	11000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	21000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	1016000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	872000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	633000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	507000000	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	51000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	7000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	2000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	48000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	48000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	41000000	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
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 NetIncomeLoss	229000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	127000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	150000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
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
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	1000000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	87000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.66
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.47
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.75
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.62
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.44
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.72
CY2018	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	104000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	105000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2238000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2060000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1914000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1725000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	428000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	440000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value Amount EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount	7000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value Amount EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount	7000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	435000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	447000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	34000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	35000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	295000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	295000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1369000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1280000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	4018000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	3708000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Switching Equipment SwitchingEquipment	1094000000	USD
CY2019Q4	usm	Switching Equipment SwitchingEquipment	1051000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	282000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	280000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	49000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	48000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1327000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1238000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	317000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	358000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8293000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8785000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6319000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6086000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2466000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2207000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	669000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	689000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	627000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-25000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	171000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	163000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset Amortization FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAmortization	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	10000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	7000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	182000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	171000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	169000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	156000000	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	155000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	125000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P12Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P13Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P30Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P25Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.041
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.044
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.068
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.070
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	152000000	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	152000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	135000000	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	116000000	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	94000000	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	690000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	11000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	1339000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	13000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	348000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	10000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	991000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	3000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Lessee Lease Notyet Commenced Liability Incurred LesseeLeaseNotyetCommencedLiabilityIncurred	51000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	77000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	74000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Next Twelve Months LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedNextTwelveMonths	65000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Two Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears	60000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Three Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThreeYears	48000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Four Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFourYears	33000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Five Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFiveYears	14000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Thereafter LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThereafter	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	14000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceived	222000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	14000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	220000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	203000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	5000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	2000000	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 Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	249000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	220000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	2572000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	81000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2491000000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	8000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2489000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	1502000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	2000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	28000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	3000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	3000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	3000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	0	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Fcc License Auction Percentof Bid Creditin Each Auction FCCLicenseAuctionPercentofBidCreditinEachAuction	0.25
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Entity Maximum Loss Exposure Amount VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount	5000000	USD
CY2019Q4	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Fair Value RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityFairValue	33000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount	13000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	78000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	32000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	37000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	8000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	24000000	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
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	90000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	32000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	37000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	33000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P2Y1M6D
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromExerciseOfStockOptions	12000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	105000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	107000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	113000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-38000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	29000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	11000000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	-11000000	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

Files In Submission

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0000821130-21-000008-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
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0000821130-21-000008.txt	Edgar Link	pending
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usmlogo1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending

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$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

2019 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113021000008 Filed on February 18, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$USM UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

2019 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113021000008 Filed on February 18, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm