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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Significant Accounting Policies)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation

The accounting policies of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TDS and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, including TDS’ 83%-owned wireless telephone subsidiary, United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”) and TDS’ wholly-owned subsidiary, TDS Telecommunications Corporation (“TDS Telecom”).  In addition, the consolidated financial statements include certain entities in which TDS has a variable interest that require consolidation under GAAP.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. 

TDS’ business segments reflected in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017, are U.S. Cellular, Wireline, Cable, and Hosted and Managed Services (“HMS”) operations.  TDS’ non-reportable other business activities are presented as “Corporate, Eliminations and Other”, which includes the operations of TDS’ wholly-owned subsidiary Suttle-Straus, Inc. (“Suttle-Straus”).  Suttle-Straus’ financial results were not significant to TDS’ operations.  All of TDS’ segments operate only in the United States, except for HMS, which includes an insignificant foreign operation.  See Note 10 — Business Segment Information for summary financial information on each business segment.
Basis of Accounting

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by TDS pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.  However, TDS believes that the disclosures included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  Calculated amounts and percentages are based on the underlying actual numbers rather than the numbers rounded to millions as presented.  These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in TDS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2016.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of TDS’ financial position as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, its results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.  These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  TDS has not changed its significant accounting and reporting policies from those disclosed in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, except as described below.
Changes in Accounting Principles

TDS equipment revenue under equipment installment plan contracts is recognized at the time the device is delivered to the end-user customer for the selling price of the device, net of any deferred imputed interest or trade-in right, if applicable.  Imputed interest is reflected as a reduction to the receivable balance and recognized over the duration of the plan as Service revenues.  See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans.  Effective January 1, 2017, TDS elected to change the classification of interest income on equipment installment plan contracts from Interest and dividend income to Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  TDS believes this classification is preferable because financing of devices as part of enrolling customers for service is an activity that is central to TDS’ operations, and it is consistent with the presentation by others in the industry.  Comparative financial statements of prior years have been adjusted to apply the new classification retrospectively.  As a result of this change in classification, Service revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016, increased by $11 million from previously reported amounts, with a corresponding decrease in Interest and dividend income.  In comparison, Service revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017, include $16 million of equipment installment plan interest income, which would have been reported within Interest and dividend income had the change not been implemented.  This change did not have an impact on Income before income taxes, Net income, or Earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2016, nor did it have a cumulative impact to Retained earnings as of any date presented.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”) and has since amended the standard with Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date, Accounting Standards Update 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), Accounting Standards Update 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  TDS is required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended, on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2017, is permitted; however, TDS did not adopt early.  ASU 2014-09, as amended, impacts TDS’ revenue recognition related to the allocation of contract revenues between various services and equipment, and the timing of when those revenues are recognized.  In addition, ASU 2014-09 requires deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  TDS has identified that new systems, processes and controls are required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended.  TDS has substantially completed the design and development of new systems to perform revenue recognition accounting under the provisions of ASU 2014-09, as amended, and is currently engaged in the process of testing these new systems.  TDS expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  Upon adoption, the cumulative effect adjustment is expected to include the establishment of contract asset and contract liability accounts with a corresponding adjustment to retained earnings to reflect the reallocation of revenues between service and equipment performance obligations for which control is transferred to customers in different periods.  Reallocation impacts generally arise when bundle discounts are provided in a contract arrangement that includes equipment and service performance obligations.  In these cases, the revenue will be reallocated according to the relative stand-alone selling prices of the performance obligations included in the bundle and this may be different than how the revenue is billed to the customer and recognized under current guidance.  In addition, contract cost assets will be established to reflect costs that will be deferred as incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs.  Incremental contract acquisition costs generally relate to commissions paid to sales associates while fulfillment costs are generally related to service installation costs on the wireline and cable businesses.  TDS is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”).  ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability for almost all leases.  This ASU does not substantially impact lessor accounting.  TDS is required to adopt ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, TDS expects a substantial increase to assets and liabilities on its balance sheet.  TDS is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 requires entities to use a new forward-looking, expected loss model to estimate credit losses.  It also requires additional disclosure relating to the credit quality of trade and other receivables, including information relating to management’s estimate of credit allowances.  TDS is required to adopt ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2019 is permitted.  TDS is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-19 Technical Corrections and Improvements (“ASU 2016-19”).  ASU 2016-19 includes an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software, which clarifies a software license within the scope of the Subtopic will be accounted for as the acquisition of an intangible asset and the incurrence of a liability to the extent that the license fees are not fully paid at acquisition.  TDS adopted this standard prospectively for all arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2017.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”).  ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test.  Goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value.  TDS is required to adopt ASU 2017-04 on January 1, 2020.  Early adoption is permitted.  TDS is assessing whether it will early adopt ASU 2017-04. 

In February 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets: Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (“ASU 2017-05”).  ASU 2017-05 clarifies how entities account for the derecognition of a nonfinancial asset and adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets.  TDS is required to adopt ASU 2017-05 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  TDS is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2017-05 will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (“ASU 2017-07”).  ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period.  The other components of net periodic benefit cost must be presented separately from the service cost component and outside of Operating income in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  The guidance also specifies that only the service cost component of net benefit cost is eligible for capitalization.  TDS is required to adopt ASU 2017-07 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-07 is not expected to have a significant impact on TDS’ results of operations.
Variable Interest Entities

TDS consolidates variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which it has a controlling financial interest as defined by GAAP and is therefore deemed the primary beneficiary.  A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE.  TDS reviews these criteria initially at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when events warranting reconsideration occur.  These VIEs have risks similar to those described in the “Risk Factors” in TDS’ Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.