Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 105	$ 161
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	457	470
Bad debts expense	22	48
Stock-based compensation expense	24	25
Deferred income taxes, net	40	150
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(90)	(90)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	80	91
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	8	8
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1)	0
Other operating activities	37	1
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	37	21
Equipment installment plans receivable	(32)	22
Inventory	(35)	15
Accounts payable	(106)	49
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	6	(8)
Accrued taxes	(25)	(115)
Accrued interest	(3)	0
Other assets and liabilities	(43)	(42)
Net cash provided by operating activities	481	806
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(457)	(610)
Cash paid for intangible assets	(1,264)	(144)
Cash received from investments	3	1
Cash paid for investments	0	(1)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	1	1
Advance payments for license acquisitions	0	(16)
Other investing activities	2	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,715)	(769)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt	1,192	175
Repayment of long-term debt	(1,301)	(5)
Issuance of TDS Preferred Shares	420	0
TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	(5)	(3)
UScellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	(13)	(8)
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	(3)	(14)
Repurchase of UScellular Common Shares	(2)	(23)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(49)	(39)
Payment of debt and equity issuance costs	(30)	(7)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(1)
Other financing activities	(6)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	201	75
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(1,033)	112
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period	1,452	474
End of period	$ 419	$ 586