Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 42	$ 202
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	422	418
Bad debts expense	46	55
Stock-based compensation expense	18	18
Deferred income taxes, net	8	(41)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(72)	(70)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	30	27
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	12	10
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		(129)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(9)	(123)
Noncash interest expense	2	1
Other operating activities	(3)
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	(6)	(18)
Equipment installment plans receivable	(94)	(65)
Inventory	(26)	127
Accounts payable	32	30
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	(18)	(7)
Accrued taxes	76	191
Accrued interest	(1)
Other assets and liabilities	(59)	(88)
Net cash provided by operating activities	400	538
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(281)	(359)
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses	(46)	(281)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	17	292
Federal Communications Commission deposit	(143)
Other investing activities	1	2
Net cash used in investing activities	(452)	(346)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt	(6)
Issuance of long-term debt	2
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments		10
U.S. Cellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	3	(2)
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	(3)
Repurchase of U.S. Cellular Common Shares	(2)	(2)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(32)	(31)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(4)	(3)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(6)
Other financing activities	9	2
Net cash used in financing activities	(34)	(32)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(86)	160
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	985	472
End of period	$ 899	$ 632