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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested but were not issued.

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Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by accumulating dividend equivalents.

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Estimated period over which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based payment award, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that were forfeited during the reporting period.

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Weighted average fair value as of the grant date of equity-based award plans other than stock (unit) option plans that were not exercised or put into effect as a result of the occurrence of a terminating event.

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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The number of equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that vested during the reporting period.

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Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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The weighted average fair value as of grant date pertaining to an equity-based award plan other than a stock (or unit) option plan for which the grantee gained the right during the reporting period, by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash in accordance with the terms of the arrangement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

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Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards.

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Purchase price of common stock expressed as a percentage of its fair value.

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Gross number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans.

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Stock-Based Compensation - TDS excluding U.S. Cellular, Nonvested shares and other stock compensation disclosures (Details) - TDS Parent Company - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Performance Shares \| Minimum
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Performance share awards target	0.00%
Performance Shares \| Maximum
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Performance share awards target	200.00%
Common Shares \| Non-Employee Directors' Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Shares issued	32,000	27,000	27,000
Shares reserved	253,000
Common Shares \| Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plans
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Shares reserved	981,000
Purchase price, percent	95.00%
Common Shares \| Restricted Stock Units
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares rollforward, number of shares
Nonvested stock units, beginning of period - Number of shares (in shares)	1,175,000
Granted number of shares (in shares)	444,000
Vested number of shares (in shares)	(322,000)
Forfeited number of shares (in shares)	(85,000)
Nonvested stock units, end of period - Number of shares (in shares)	1,212,000	1,175,000
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value
Nonvested stock units - beginning of period weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 27.01
Granted weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	23.87	$ 25.97	$ 27.87
Vested weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	27.56
Forfeited weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	26.73
Nonvested stock units - end of period weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 25.73	$ 27.01
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Fair value of vested stock units	$ 9,000,000	$ 9,000,000	$ 10,000,000
Common Shares \| Performance Shares
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares rollforward, number of shares
Nonvested stock units, beginning of period - Number of shares (in shares)	216,000
Granted number of shares (in shares)	142,000
Forfeited number of shares (in shares)	(15,000)
Accumulated dividend equivalents (in shares)	7,000
Nonvested stock units, end of period - Number of shares (in shares)	350,000	216,000
Stock based compensation, Nonvested shares weighted average grant date fair value
Nonvested stock units - beginning of period weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 28.56
Granted weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	25.70	$ 27.79	$ 29.45
Forfeited weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	28.57
Accumulated dividend equival4ents, weighted average exercise price (USD per share)	27.59
Nonvested stock units - end of period weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 27.38	$ 28.56
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Fair value of vested stock units	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Performance period	3 years
Common Shares \| Deferred Compensation Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Percent of match up to 50% from annual bonus	25.00%
Percent of employee contribution to get 33 percent match	50.00%
Percent of match above 50% from annual bonus	33.00%
Weighted average grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 28.96	$ 27.13	$ 27.94
Vested number of shares, unissued	101,000
Vested number of shares, unissued, fair value	$ 3,000,000
Common Shares \| Deferred Compensation Stock Units \| Maximum
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Fair value of vested stock units	$ 1,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 1,000,000
Series A Common Shares \| Series A Common Share Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Shares issued and granted under stock compensation plans
Shares reserved	217,000
Purchase price, percent	95.00%