Revenue Recognition Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances		$ 867		$ 861
Other, less allowances		88		100
Prepaid expenses		104		112
Other current assets		42		27
Total current assets		2,043		1,966
Licenses		2,240		2,232
Investments in unconsolidated entities		488		453		$ 472
Other assets and deferred charges		587		422
Total assets		9,481	[1]	9,295	[1]	9,349
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		169		223
Other current liabilities		95		106
Total current liabilities		750		918
Deferred income tax liability, net		634		552
Other deferred liabilities and credits		516		495
Retained earnings		2,696		2,525
Total TDS shareholders' equity		4,472		4,269
Noncontrolling interests		667		623
Total equity		5,139		4,892		$ 4,791	$ 4,750
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	9,481		$ 9,295
Results under prior accounting standards
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances		808
Other, less allowances		99
Prepaid expenses		125
Other current assets		28
Total current assets		2,001
Licenses		2,239
Investments in unconsolidated entities		474
Other assets and deferred charges		412
Total assets		9,249
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		194
Other current liabilities		91
Total current liabilities		771
Deferred income tax liability, net		580
Other deferred liabilities and credits		509
Retained earnings		2,535
Total TDS shareholders' equity		4,311
Noncontrolling interests		637
Total equity		4,948
Total liabilities and equity		9,249
Adjustment
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances		59
Other, less allowances		(11)
Prepaid expenses		(21)
Other current assets		14
Total current assets		42
Licenses		1
Investments in unconsolidated entities		14
Other assets and deferred charges		175
Total assets		232
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		(25)
Other current liabilities		4
Total current liabilities		(21)
Deferred income tax liability, net		54
Other deferred liabilities and credits		7
Retained earnings		161
Total TDS shareholders' equity		161
Noncontrolling interests		30
Total equity		191
Total liabilities and equity		$ 232

[1] The consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $773 million and $765 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $18 million and $21 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.