Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 152	$ 254
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	670	685
Bad debts expense	36	55
Stock-based compensation expense	35	39
Deferred income taxes, net	55	217
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(138)	(138)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	107	118
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	17	15
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1)	0
(Gain) loss on investments	0	(3)
Other operating activities	51	1
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	26	26
Equipment installment plans receivable	(44)	13
Inventory	12	2
Accounts payable	(56)	95
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	13	(21)
Accrued taxes	(43)	(156)
Accrued interest	4	14
Other assets and liabilities	(33)	(50)
Net cash provided by operating activities	863	1,166
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(726)	(914)
Cash paid for intangible assets	(1,268)	(169)
Cash received from investments	3	1
Cash paid for investments	0	(1)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	2	1
Advance payments for license acquisitions	(20)	0
Other investing activities	3	4
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,006)	(1,078)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt	1,418	675
Repayment of long-term debt	(1,884)	(8)
Issuance of TDS Preferred Shares	1,110	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	(16)	(11)
Repurchase of TDS Common Shares	(4)	(14)
Repurchase of UScellular Common Shares	(21)	(23)
Dividends paid to TDS shareholders	(81)	(58)
Payment of debt and equity issuance costs	(59)	(23)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(2)
Other financing activities	(4)	1
Net cash provided by financing activities	452	534
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(691)	622
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of period	1,452	474
End of period	$ 761	$ 1,096