Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 367	$ 1,429
Short-term investments		0	3
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $60 and $67, respectively		1,058	1,004
Other, less allowances of $2 and $2, respectively		93	108
Inventory, net		178	154
Prepaid expenses		103	105
Income taxes receivable		184	187
Other current assets		61	36
Total current assets		2,044	3,026
Assets held for sale		18	2
Licenses		4,097	2,638
Goodwill		547	547
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $91 and $71, respectively		197	213
Investments in unconsolidated entities		479	477
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		14,265	13,659
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		9,904	9,687
Property, plant and equipment, net		4,361	3,972
Operating lease right-of-use assets		1,040	998
Other assets and deferred charges		710	652
Total assets	[1]	13,493	12,525
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		6	5
Accounts payable		481	508
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		236	193
Accrued interest		10	16
Accrued taxes		45	69
Accrued compensation		137	132
Short-term operating lease liabilities		141	129
Other current liabilities		124	101
Total current liabilities		1,180	1,153
Liabilities held for sale		0	1
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net		921	863
Long-term operating lease liabilities		960	940
Other deferred liabilities and credits		759	541
Long-term debt, net		2,928	3,424
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features		11	10
TDS shareholders’ equity
Series A Common and Common Shares Authorized 290 shares (25 Series A Common and 265 Common Shares) Issued 133 shares (7 Series A Common and 126 Common Shares) Outstanding 115 shares (7 Series A Common and 108 Common Shares) and 114 shares (7 Series A Common and 107 Common Shares), respectively Par Value ($0.01 per share)		1	1
Capital in excess of par value		2,496	2,482
Preferred Shares, .279 shares authorized, par value $0.01 per share, .0444 shares outstanding (.0168 Series UU and .0276 Series VV)		1,074	0
Treasury shares, at cost, 18 and 19 Common Shares, respectively		(461)	(477)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		5	(4)
Retained earnings		2,812	2,802
Total TDS shareholders’ equity		5,927	4,804
Noncontrolling interests		807	789
Total equity		6,734	5,593
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 13,493	$ 12,525

[1] The consolidated total assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $1,456 million and $1,042 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $21 million and $18 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 15 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.