Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 254	$ 132
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	685	697
Bad debts expense	55	80
Stock-based compensation expense	39	47
Deferred income taxes, net	217	23
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(138)	(129)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	118	100
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	15	5
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	0	(1)
(Gain) loss on investments	(3)	0
Other operating activities	1	4
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	26	(42)
Equipment installment plans receivable	13	(42)
Inventory	2	3
Accounts payable	95	(4)
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	(21)	(2)
Accrued taxes	(156)	37
Accrued interest	14	9
Other assets and liabilities	(50)	(43)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,166	874
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(914)	(631)
Cash paid for licenses	(169)	(257)
Cash received from investments	1	29
Cash paid for investments	(1)	(11)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	1	32
Other investing activities	4	1
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,078)	(837)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt	675	0
Repayment of long-term debt	(8)	(16)
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	(3)	(6)
UScellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	(11)	(8)
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	(14)	0
Repurchase of UScellular Common Shares	(23)	(21)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(58)	(57)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(23)	(1)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(3)
Other financing activities	1	9
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	534	(103)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	622	(66)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period	474	927
End of period	$ 1,096	$ 861