Earnings Per Share - Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders used in basic earnings per share	$ 18	$ 20	$ 61	$ 77
Noncontrolling interest adjustment	0	0	(1)	(1)
Net income attributable to TDS common shareholders used in diluted earnings per share	$ 18	$ 20	$ 60	$ 76
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	115	115	115	115
Effects of dilutive securities (in shares)	1	1	1	1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share (in shares)	116	116	116	116
Basic earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.53	$ 0.67
Diluted earnings per share attributable to TDS common shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.17	$ 0.52	$ 0.65
Common Shares
Earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	108	108	108	108
Series A Common Shares
Earnings per share
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share (in shares)	7	7	7	7