Acquisitions Divestures And Exchanges	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges [Abstract]
Acquisitions, Divestures and Exchanges	Note 5 Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to exchange certain 700 MHz licenses for certain AWS and PCS licenses and $28 million of cash. This license exchange will be accomplished in two closings. The first closing occurred in the second quarter of 2016, at which time U.S. Cellular received $13 million of cash and recorded a gain of $9 million. The second closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2016 and U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain at that time. As a result of this exchange, the remaining licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016. In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party that provided for the transfer of certain AWS spectrum licenses and $2 million in cash to U.S. Cellular, in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain AWS, PCS and 700 MHz licenses with a carrying value of $7 million to the third party. This transaction closed in the third quarter of 2016, at which time U.S. Cellular recorded a gain of $7 million. In March 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party to transfer FCC licenses in non-operating markets and receive FCC licenses in operating markets. The agreement provides for the transfer of certain AWS and PCS spectrum licenses to U.S. Cellular in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain PCS spectrum licenses and $1 million of cash to the third party. This transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. Upon closing of this transaction, U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain. As a result of this additional exchange agreement, licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016. In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into multiple agreements to purchase spectrum licenses located in U.S. Cellular’s existing operating markets. The aggregate purchase price for these spectrum licenses is $56 million, of which $46 million closed in the second quarter of 2016. The remaining agreements are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. U.S. Cellular is participating in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002, which commenced in August 2016. In the second quarter of 2016, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million to establish its initial bidding eligibility.

Note 5 Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to exchange certain 700 MHz licenses for certain AWS and PCS licenses and $28 million of cash. This license exchange will be accomplished in two closings. The first closing occurred in the second quarter of 2016, at which time U.S. Cellular received $13 million of cash and recorded a gain of $9 million. The second closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2016 and U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain at that time. As a result of this exchange, the remaining licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016.

In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party that provided for the transfer of certain AWS spectrum licenses and $2 million in cash to U.S. Cellular, in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain AWS, PCS and 700 MHz licenses with a carrying value of $7 million to the third party. This transaction closed in the third quarter of 2016, at which time U.S. Cellular recorded a gain of $7 million.

In March 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party to transfer FCC licenses in non-operating markets and receive FCC licenses in operating markets. The agreement provides for the transfer of certain AWS and PCS spectrum licenses to U.S. Cellular in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain PCS spectrum licenses and $1 million of cash to the third party. This transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. Upon closing of this transaction, U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain. As a result of this additional exchange agreement, licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016.

In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into multiple agreements to purchase spectrum licenses located in U.S. Cellular’s existing operating markets. The aggregate purchase price for these spectrum licenses is $56 million, of which $46 million closed in the second quarter of 2016. The remaining agreements are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.

U.S. Cellular is participating in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002, which commenced in August 2016. In the second quarter of 2016, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million to establish its initial bidding eligibility.