$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

$usm Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113022000009 Filed on February 17, 2022

Income Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
Revenue	$1.069B	$4.122B	$1.073B
YoY Change	-0.37%	2.11%	2.0%
Cost Of Revenue	$528.0M	$1.908B	$521.0M
YoY Change	1.34%	6.41%	5.89%
Gross Profit	$541.0M	$2.214B	$552.0M
YoY Change	-1.99%	-1.34%	-1.43%
Gross Profit Margin	50.61%	53.71%	51.44%
Selling, General & Admin	$361.0M	$1.345B	$374.0M
YoY Change	-3.48%	-1.68%	-1.32%
% of Gross Profit	66.73%	60.75%	67.75%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$168.0M	$662.0M	$167.0M
YoY Change	0.6%	-1.05%	-6.18%
% of Gross Profit	31.05%	29.9%	30.25%
Operating Expenses	$529.0M	$3.952B	$541.0M
YoY Change	-2.22%	2.28%	-2.87%
Operating Profit	$12.00M	$170.0M	$11.00M
YoY Change	9.09%	-1.73%	266.67%
Interest Expense	$12.00M	$175.0M	$7.000M
YoY Change	71.43%	56.25%	-61.11%
% of Operating Profit	100.0%	102.94%	63.64%
Other Income/Expense, Net		$10.00M	$0.00
YoY Change		-87.01%
Pretax Income	$17.00M	$180.0M	$12.00M
YoY Change	41.67%	-28.0%	-20.0%
Income Tax	-$11.00M	$20.00M	$55.00M
% Of Pretax Income	-64.71%	11.11%	458.33%
Net Earnings	$27.00M	$155.0M	$5.000M
YoY Change	440.0%	-32.31%	-72.22%
Net Earnings / Revenue	2.53%	3.76%	0.47%
Basic Earnings Per Share		$1.80
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$321.4K	$1.77	$57.47K
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding		86.00M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		87.00M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$156.0M	$156.0M	$1.274B
YoY Change	-87.76%	-87.76%	347.02%
Cash & Equivalents	$156.0M	$156.0M	$1.271B
Short-Term Investments	$0.00	$0.00	$3.000M
Other Short-Term Assets	$49.00M	$107.0M	$29.00M
YoY Change	68.97%	33.75%	45.0%
Inventory	$173.0M	$173.0M	$146.0M
Prepaid Expenses	$58.00M		$51.00M
Receivables	$976.0M	$983.0M	$915.0M
Other Receivables	$186.0M	$186.0M	$195.0M
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.605B	$1.605B	$2.623B
YoY Change	-38.81%	-38.81%	66.75%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$2.606B	$3.565B	$2.466B
YoY Change	5.68%	5.16%	11.74%
Goodwill
YoY Change
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$431.0M	$439.0M	$428.0M
YoY Change	0.7%	0.92%	-2.73%
Other Assets	$626.0M	$644.0M	$602.0M
YoY Change	3.99%	6.62%	6.36%
Total Long-Term Assets	$8.736B	$8.736B	$7.058B
YoY Change	23.77%	23.77%	7.09%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$1.605B	$1.605B	$2.623B
Total Long-Term Assets	$8.736B	$8.736B	$7.058B
Total Assets	$10.34B	$10.34B	$9.681B
YoY Change	6.82%	6.82%	18.58%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$360.0M	$360.0M	$387.0M
YoY Change	-6.98%	-6.98%	27.3%
Accrued Expenses	$245.0M	$245.0M	$246.0M
YoY Change	-0.41%	-0.41%	16.59%
Deferred Revenue	$191.0M		$151.0M
YoY Change	26.49%		2.03%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$3.000M	$3.000M	$2.000M
YoY Change	50.0%	50.0%	-75.0%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$903.0M	$903.0M	$871.0M
YoY Change	3.67%	3.67%	16.13%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$2.728B	$2.728B	$2.489B
YoY Change	9.6%	9.6%	65.71%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$573.0M	$1.462B	$376.0M
YoY Change	52.39%	16.77%	17.87%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$573.0M	$4.190B	$376.0M
YoY Change	52.39%	12.0%	17.87%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$903.0M	$903.0M	$871.0M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$573.0M	$4.190B	$376.0M
Total Liabilities	$1.476B	$5.794B	$1.247B
YoY Change	18.36%	9.94%	16.65%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.849B		$2.739B
YoY Change	4.02%		7.41%
Common Stock	$88.00M		$88.00M
YoY Change	0.0%		0.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)	$68.00M		$67.00M
YoY Change	1.49%		-4.29%
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$4.547B	$4.547B	$4.411B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$10.34B	$10.34B	$9.681B
YoY Change	6.82%	6.82%	18.58%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021	2020 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$27.00M	$155.0M	$5.000M
YoY Change	440.0%	-32.31%	-72.22%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$168.0M	$662.0M	$167.0M
YoY Change	0.6%	-1.05%	-6.18%
Cash From Operating Activities	$135.0M	$802.0M	$287.0M
YoY Change	-52.96%	-35.17%	675.68%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$307.0M	-$2.026B	-$301.0M
YoY Change	1.99%	74.66%	36.82%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$3.000M	-$4.000M	-$7.000M
YoY Change	-142.86%	33.33%	-333.33%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$304.0M	-$2.036B	-$308.0M
YoY Change	-1.3%	75.06%	41.94%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net		$31.00M
YoY Change		34.78%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net		$1.118B
YoY Change		935.19%
Cash From Financing Activities	105.0M	$142.0M	364.0M
YoY Change	-71.15%	-84.67%	-450.0%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	135.0M	$802.0M	287.0M
Cash From Investing Activities	-304.0M	-$2.036B	-308.0M
Cash From Financing Activities	105.0M	$142.0M	364.0M
Net Change In Cash	-64.00M	-$1.092B	343.0M
YoY Change	-118.66%	-209.2%	-220.77%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$135.0M	$802.0M	$287.0M
Capital Expenditures	-$307.0M	-$2.026B	-$301.0M
Free Cash Flow	$442.0M	$2.828B	$588.0M
YoY Change	-24.83%	17.98%	128.79%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2021	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000821130
CY2021	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2021
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2021	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2021	usm	Fcc Licenses Periodof Renewal FCCLicensesPeriodofRenewal	P12Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1	P1Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation Expected Timing Of Satisfaction Period1 RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligationExpectedTimingOfSatisfactionPeriod1
CY2021	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2021	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2021	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2021-12-31
CY2021	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2021	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-09712
CY2021	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
CY2021	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2021	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	62-1147325
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	8410 West Bryn Mawr
CY2021	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Chicago
CY2021	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	IL
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	60631
CY2021	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	(773)
CY2021	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	399-8900
CY2021	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	No
CY2021	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2021	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2021	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Accelerated Filer
CY2021	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2021	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2021	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	true
CY2021	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	9056000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.114
CY2021	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	4122000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	4037000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	4022000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1345000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1368000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	1406000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	678000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	683000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	702000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-19000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	2000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	1000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	5000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	3952000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	3864000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	3910000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	170000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	173000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	112000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	179000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest And Dividend InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend	6000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	175000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	112000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	110000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	10000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	77000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	73000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	180000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	250000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	185000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	160000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	233000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	133000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	5000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	229000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	127000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.80
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.66
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.47
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	87000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.77
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.62
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.44
CY2021	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	160000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	233000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	133000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	678000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	683000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	702000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	56000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	107000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	27000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	32000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	41000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	179000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	166000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	161000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	33000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	2000000	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	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	9000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	802000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1237000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	724000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	989000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Productive Assets PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets	650000000	USD
CY2021	usm	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	1302000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Payments For Intangible Assets And To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsForIntangibleAssetsAndToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	171000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	3000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Held To Maturity Securities ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfHeldToMaturitySecurities	29000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	11000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	26000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	41000000	USD
CY2021	usm	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	20000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	30000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Advance Payment For License Acquisition AdvancePaymentForLicenseAcquisition	5000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-4000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-2036000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	1342000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	1118000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	108000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	116000000	USD
CY2021	usm	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	16000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	11000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	9000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	31000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	22000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	38000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	1000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	3000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest PaymentsOfDividendsMinorityInterest	4000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Additional Interest In Subsidiaries PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries	0	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-10000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	142000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-1092000000	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
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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	199000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	156000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1271000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Investments ShortTermInvestments	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	57000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	62000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	976000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	915000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Receivables Net Current Roaming ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	7000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Receivables Net Current Roaming ReceivablesNetCurrentRoaming	13000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Other Receivables Current AllowanceForDoubtfulOtherReceivablesCurrent	1000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	63000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Receivables OtherReceivables	70000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	173000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	146000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	58000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	51000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	123000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	125000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	49000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	29000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	1605000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	2623000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	18000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	4088000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Indefinite Lived License Agreements IndefiniteLivedLicenseAgreements	2629000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	439000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	435000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	9056000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8785000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6450000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6319000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2606000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2466000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	959000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	924000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	626000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	602000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	10341000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	9681000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	3000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Due To Affiliate Current DueToAffiliateCurrent	14000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Due To Affiliate Current DueToAffiliateCurrent	10000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	346000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Trade Current AccountsPayableTradeCurrent	377000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	191000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	151000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	33000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Taxes Payable Current TaxesPayableCurrent	48000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	83000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	82000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	129000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	116000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	104000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	85000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	903000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	871000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Noncurrent LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Noncurrent LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationNoncurrent	1000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	674000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	633000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	889000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	875000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	573000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	376000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2728000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2489000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	11000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Other Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityOtherCarryingAmount	10000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	190000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	190000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	88000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	88000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	86000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	88000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	88000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	1678000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	1651000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	68000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value TreasuryStockValue	67000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2849000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2739000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4547000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	4411000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	16000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Minority Interest MinorityInterest	15000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4563000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4426000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	10341000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	9681000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4426000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	155000000	USD
CY2021	usm	Minority Interest In Net Income Loss Equity Minority Interests MinorityInterestInNetIncomeLossEquityMinorityInterests	4000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	31000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	12000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	4563000000	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	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
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
CY2021Q4	usm	Number Of Connections NumberOfConnections	5000000	connection
CY2021	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	segment
CY2021	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.
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	156000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1271000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	43000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Current RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsCurrent	20000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	199000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1291000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Before Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedBeforeAccumulatedAmortization	76000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Before Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedBeforeAccumulatedAmortization	67000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedAccumulatedAmortization	29000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedAccumulatedAmortization	13000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized After Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedAfterAccumulatedAmortization	47000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Capitalized After Accumulated Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostCapitalizedAfterAccumulatedAmortization	54000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Expense Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostExpenseAmortization	16000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Hosting Arrangement Service Contract Implementation Cost Expense Amortization HostingArrangementServiceContractImplementationCostExpenseAmortization	11000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2021Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnits	8	unit
CY2021Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Built Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsBuiltLicenses	1	unit
CY2021Q4	usm	Fcc Licenses Numberof Accounting Units Unbuilt Licenses FCCLicensesNumberofAccountingUnitsUnbuiltLicenses	7	unit
CY2021Q4	usm	Asset Groups AssetGroups	1	asset_group
CY2021Q4	usm	Accrued Agent Commission Current AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent	51000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Accrued Agent Commission Current AccruedAgentCommissionCurrent	55000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	184000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	196000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	212000000	USD
CY2021	usm	Amounts Collected And Remitted To Governmental Authorities AmountsCollectedAndRemittedToGovernmentalAuthorities	66000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	4039000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	7000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Asset Net ContractWithCustomerAssetNet	10000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	243000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability ContractWithCustomerLiability	171000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	132000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	252000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	112000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	81000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Revenue Remaining Performance Obligation RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation	445000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	126000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Net CapitalizedContractCostNet	124000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	99000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	104000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Amortization CapitalizedContractCostAmortization	109000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1085000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1007000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	72000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses	78000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	1013000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	929000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	1013000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Net NotesReceivableNet	929000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Threshold Period Past Due FinancingReceivableThresholdPeriodPastDue	P30D
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1085000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1007000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Originated Two Years Before Latest Fiscal Year FinancingReceivableOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeLatestFiscalYear	45000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Originated In Fiscal Year Before Latest Fiscal Year FinancingReceivableOriginatedInFiscalYearBeforeLatestFiscalYear	309000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Originated In Current Fiscal Year FinancingReceivableOriginatedInCurrentFiscalYear	731000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	1085000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-118000000	USD
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CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	5000000	USD
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CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	49000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-8000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	38000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-25000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-0.141
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
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.034
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	7000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.038
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
CY2021	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESAct	0	USD
CY2021	usm	Loss Carryback Benefit Of Cares Act Rate LossCarrybackBenefitOfCARESActRate	0
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	2000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Other EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther	0.013
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.002
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-2000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	64000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.004
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	20000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.114
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	126000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	107000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	254000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Assets Lease Liability DeferredTaxAssetsLeaseLiability	236000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	574000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Asset Retirement Obligations DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAssetRetirementObligations	51000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	130000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	83000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	477000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	83000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	94000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	491000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	383000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	446000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	391000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	330000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Goodwill And Intangible Assets Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssets	256000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	154000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investment In Affiliates DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestmentInAffiliates	143000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	232000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	11000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Deferred Tax Liabilities Lease Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesLeaseAssets	215000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	1165000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	1016000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	674000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	633000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	8000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	3000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	2000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	19000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	35000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	51000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	48000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	28000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	-10000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	12000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	23000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	155000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	229000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	127000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	86000000	shares
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	104000000	USD
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
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	87000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.80
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.66
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.47
CY2021	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.77
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.62
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.44
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Aggregate Cost EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost	104000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	1914000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	431000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	428000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value Amount EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount	8000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Without Readily Determinable Fair Value Amount EquitySecuritiesWithoutReadilyDeterminableFairValueAmount	7000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	439000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2417000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Income EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfIncome	2238000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Equity Method Investments Cumulative Share Of Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentsCumulativeShareOfDistributions	2090000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures	435000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	37000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Land Land	34000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	293000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Buildings And Improvements Gross BuildingsAndImprovementsGross	295000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	49000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1442000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Leasehold Improvements Gross LeaseholdImprovementsGross	1369000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	4150000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Machinery And Equipment Gross MachineryAndEquipmentGross	4018000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Switching Equipment SwitchingEquipment	1095000000	USD
CY2020Q4	usm	Switching Equipment SwitchingEquipment	1094000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	252000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Furniture And Fixtures Gross FurnitureAndFixturesGross	282000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Other PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther	47000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1479000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Computer Software Gross CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross	1327000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	261000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Construction In Progress Gross ConstructionInProgressGross	317000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	9056000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	8785000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	10000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6450000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6319000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2606000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2466000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	662000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	669000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	689000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-23000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	181000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	171000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	163000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P12Y
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.038
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.041
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	10000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	7000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	191000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	181000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	170000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	183000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	169000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	156000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	182000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	163000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	162000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	143000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	118000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	87000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	680000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	1353000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	335000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	1018000000	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Lessee Lease Notyet Commenced Liability Incurred LesseeLeaseNotyetCommencedLiabilityIncurred	33000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2489000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	3000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	83000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	77000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	74000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Next Twelve Months LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedNextTwelveMonths	72000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Two Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears	69000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Three Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThreeYears	54000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Four Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFourYears	36000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Five Years LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedFiveYears	17000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received Thereafter LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedThereafter	15000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessor Operating Lease Payments To Be Received LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceived	263000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	249000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	220000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	9000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Incurred AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesIncurred	5000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	42000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Revision Of Estimate AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate	11000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Liabilities Settled AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled	1000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	16000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation Accretion Expense AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense	14000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	315000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Asset Retirement Obligation AssetRetirementObligation	249000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	2796000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	65000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt And Capital Lease Obligations DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2731000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	3000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	2000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	2728000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	3000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Accrual At Carrying Value LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue	0	USD
CY2021Q4	usm	Fcc License Auction Percentof Bid Creditin Each Auction FCCLicenseAuctionPercentofBidCreditinEachAuction	0.25
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Entity Maximum Loss Exposure Amount VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount	4000000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Entity Maximum Loss Exposure Amount VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount	5000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Variable Interest Entity Financial Or Other Support Amount VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount	36000000	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
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Fair Value RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityFairValue	32000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Carrying Amount RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount	14000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	27000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	32000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	7000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	20000000	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
CY2021	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	27000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	32000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41000000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	41000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P2Y3M18D
CY2021	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Exercise Of Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromExerciseOfStockOptions	11000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	143000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	105000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	107000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	6000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	-38000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	78000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	1000000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	16000000	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
CY2021	usm	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	16000000	USD
CY2020	usm	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	11000000	USD
CY2019	usm	Payments For Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options PaymentsForIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	9000000	USD
CY2021	dei	Auditor Firm AuditorFirmId	238
CY2021	dei	Auditor Name AuditorName	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
CY2021	dei	Auditor Location AuditorLocation	Chicago, Illinois

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0000821130-22-000009-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000821130-22-000009-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000821130-22-000009.txt	Edgar Link	pending
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Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
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usm202110-kexhibit49b.htm	Edgar Link	pending

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$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113022000009 Filed on February 17, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$USM UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm

2021 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000082113022000009 Filed on February 17, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$USM
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORP Stock $usm