Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 58	$ 265
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	636	628
Bad debts expense	72	83
Stock-based compensation expense	29	29
Deferred income taxes, net	11	(40)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(109)	(110)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	55	45
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	20	15
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1)	(130)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(16)	(147)
Noncash interest expense	2	2
Other operating activities	(3)	(1)
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	(9)	(94)
Equipment installment plans receivable	(160)	(96)
Inventory	3	90
Accounts payable	47	125
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	(41)	(50)
Accrued taxes	77	212
Accrued interest	7	11
Other assets and liabilities	(40)	(110)
Net cash provided by operating activities	638	727
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(426)	(558)
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses	(46)	(287)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	20	325
Federal Communications Commission deposit	(143)
Other investing activities	1	6
Net cash used in investing activities	(594)	(514)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt	2	225
Repayment of long-term debt	(9)	(1)
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	7	11
U.S. Cellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	4	(1)
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	(3)
Repurchase of U.S. Cellular Common Shares	(2)	(4)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(49)	(46)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(4)	(3)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(6)
Other financing activities	11	5
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(44)	180
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		393
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	985	472
End of period	$ 985	$ 865