Note 8 Debt

Revolving Credit Facilities

TDS and U.S. Cellular have revolving credit facilities available for general corporate purposes. In June 2016, TDS entered into a new $400 million revolving credit agreement with certain lenders and other parties and U.S. Cellular entered into a new $300 million revolving credit agreement with certain lenders and other parties. As a result of the new agreements, TDS’ and U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreements due to expire in December 2017 were terminated. Amounts under both of the new revolving credit facilities may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time-to-time until maturity in June 2021. As of September 30, 2016, there were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facilities, except for letters of credit. Interest expense representing commitment fees on the unused portion of the revolving lines of credit was $1 million and $2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

The following table summarizes the terms of such revolving credit facilities as of September 30, 2016:

			TDS			U.S. Cellular
(Dollars in millions)
Maximum borrowing capacity			$	400		$	300
Letters of credit outstanding			$	1		$	16
Amount borrowed			$	–		$	–
Amount available for use			$	399		$	284
Illustrative borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered
	Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread1			2.28	%		2.28	%
	Illustrative LIBOR Rate			0.53	%		0.53	%
	Contractual spread			1.75	%		1.75	%
Commitment fees on amount available for use2				0.30	%		0.30	%

Agreement date				June 2016			June 2016
Maturity date				June 2021			June 2021

1		Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest either at a LIBOR rate or at an alternative Base Rate as defined in the revolving credit agreement, plus an applicable margin, at TDS' or U.S. Cellular’s option. TDS and U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by TDS or U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders).

2		The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to TDS and U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

The new revolving credit agreements include the following financial covenants:

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio may not be less than 3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.
Consolidated Leverage Ratio may not be greater than the ratios indicated as of the end of any fiscal quarter for each period specified below:

	Period	Ratios

	From the agreement date of June 15, 2016 through June 30, 2019	3.25 to 1.00

	From July 1, 2019 and thereafter	3.00 to 1.00

Certain TDS and U.S. Cellular wholly-owned subsidiaries have jointly and severally unconditionally guaranteed the payment and performance of the obligations of TDS and U.S. Cellular under the revolving credit agreements pursuant to a guaranty dated June 15, 2016. Other subsidiaries that meet certain criteria will be required to provide a similar guaranty in the future. TDS and U.S. Cellular believe that they were in compliance with all of the financial and other covenants and requirements set forth in their revolving credit facilities as of September 30, 2016.

At September 30, 2016, TDS had recorded $6 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the revolving credit facilities which is included in Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Included in that amount was $4 million related to the new revolving credit facilities.

Term Loan

In June 2016, U.S. Cellular also amended and restated its senior term loan credit facility. Certain modifications were made to the financial covenants and subsidiary guarantees were added in order to align with the new revolving credit agreements. There were no significant changes to the maturity date or other key terms of the agreement.