Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 985	$ 985
Accounts receivable
Due from customers and agents, less allowances of $54 and $49, respectively		725	705
Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively		99	98
Inventory, net		148	158
Prepaid expenses		113	112
Income taxes receivable		6	70
Other current assets		34	30
Total current assets		2,110	2,158
Assets held for sale		16
Licenses		1,876	1,844
Goodwill		766	766
Franchise rights		244	244
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $150 and $144, respectively		36	47
Investments in unconsolidated entities		459	402
Other investments		1
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		11,551	11,520
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		8,002	7,756
Property, plant and equipment, net		3,549	3,764
Other assets and deferred charges		392	197
Total assets	[1]	9,449	9,422
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		12	14
Accounts payable		366	349
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		242	288
Accrued interest		19	12
Accrued taxes		48	41
Accrued compensation		115	113
Other current liabilities		85	127
Total current liabilities		887	944
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net		910	900
Other deferred liabilities and credits		461	433
Long-term debt, net		2,436	2,440
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features		1	1
TDS shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares Authorized 290 shares (25 Series A Common and 265 Common Shares) Issued 133 shares (7 Series A Common and 126 Common Shares) Outstanding 110 shares (7 Series A Common and 103 Common Shares) and 109 shares (7 Series A Common and 102 Common Shares), respectively Par Value ($.01 per share)		1	1
Capital in excess of par value		2,373	2,365
Treasury shares, at cost, 23 and 24 Common Shares, respectively		(703)	(727)
Retained earnings		2,477	2,487
Total TDS shareholders' equity		4,148	4,126
Preferred shares		1	1
Noncontrolling interests		605	577
Total equity		4,754	4,704
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 9,449	$ 9,422

[1] The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include assets held by consolidated VIEs of $805 million and $658 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $15 million and $1 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.