10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[x]	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016
		OR
[ ]	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                                    to
Commission file number 001-09712

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware					62-1147325
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)					(IRS Employer Identification No.)
8410 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago, Illinois 60631
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (773) 399-8900
								Yes	No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.								[x]	[ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).								[x]	[ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer	[ ]	Accelerated filer	[x]	Non-accelerated filer		[ ]	Smaller reporting company		[ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).								[ ]	[x]
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class					Outstanding at September 30, 2016
Common Shares, $1 par value					51,812,225 Shares
Series A Common Shares, $1 par value					33,005,877 Shares

United States Cellular Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2016
Index		Page No.
	Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	1
	Executive Overview	1
	Terms used by U.S. Cellular	4
	Operational Overview	5
	Financial Overview	8
	Liquidity and Capital Resources	12
	Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis	15
	Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis	16
	Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures	17
	Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates	20
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements	20
	Regulatory Matters	21
	Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement	22
	Risk Factors	24
	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	24
	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	25
	Consolidated Statement of Operations	25
	Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	26
	Consolidated Balance Sheet	27
	Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity	29
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	31
	Controls and Procedures	41
	Legal Proceedings	41
	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	41
	Other Information	42
	Exhibits	43
	Form 10-Q Cross Reference Index	44
	Signatures	45

United States Cellular Corporation Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Executive Overview

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with United States Cellular Corporation’s (“U.S. Cellular”) interim consolidated financial statements and notes included herein, and with the description of U.S. Cellular’s business, its audited consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis(“MD&A”) of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2015.  Analysis of U.S. Cellular’s financial results compares the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.  Calculated amounts and percentages are based on the underlying actual numbers rather than the numbers rounded to millions as presented.

This report contains statements that are not based on historical facts, including the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “expects” and similar words.  These statements constitute and represent “forward looking statements” as this term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be significantly different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. See Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement for additional information.

U.S. Cellular uses certain “non-GAAP financial measures” throughout the MD&A.  A discussion of the reason U.S. Cellular determines these metrics to be useful and a reconciliation of these measures to their most directly comparable measures determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) are included in the Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures section within the MD&A of this Form 10-Q Report.

1

General

U.S. Cellularowns, operates, and invests in wireless markets throughout the United States. U.S. Cellular is an 83%-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”).  U.S. Cellular’s strategy is to attract and retain wireless customers through a value proposition comprised of a high-quality network, outstanding customer service, and competitive devices, plans, and pricing, all provided with a local focus.

OPERATIONS

• Serves customers with approximately 5.0 million connections including 4.5 million postpaid,0.5million prepaid and 0.1 million reseller and other connections
• Operates in 23 states
• Employs approximately 6,300 employees
• Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois
• 6,374 cell sites including 4,015owned towers in service

2

U.S. Cellular Mission and Strategy

U.S. Cellular’s mission is to provide exceptional wireless communication services which enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses, and improve the efficiency of government operations in the mid-sized and rural markets served.

In 2016, U.S. Cellular will continue to execute on its strategies to grow revenues by increasing its customer base, driving smartphone adoption and ongoing data usage monetization.  Strategic efforts include:

• U.S. Cellular deployed 4G LTE as a result of U.S. Cellular’s strategic initiative to enhance its network.  4G LTE reaches 99% of postpaid connections and 98% of cell sites.  The adoption of data-centric smartphones and connected devices is driving significant growth in data traffic.  At the end of the third quarter of 2016, 77% of postpaid connections had 4G capable devices, with the LTE network handling 90% of data traffic.  U.S. Cellular continues to devote efforts to enhance its network capabilities with the deployment of VoLTE technology and plans a multi-year roll out beginning with one market in early 2017.  VoLTE, when deployed commercially, will enable customers to utilize the LTE network for both voice and data services, and will enable enhanced services such as high definition voice, video calling and simultaneous voice and data sessions.  The deployment of VoLTE also will expand U.S. Cellular’s ability to offer roaming services to additional carriers.
• U.S. Cellular continued to enhance its spectrum position and monetize non-strategic assets by entering into multiple agreements with third parties.  Certain of these agreements involve the purchase of licenses for cash, while others involve the exchange of licenses in non-operating markets for other licenses in operating markets and cash.  As a result of the closing of multiple exchange agreements in the nine months ended September 30, 2016, U.S. Cellular received $15 million of cash and recognized gains of $16 million.  The remaining license purchase and exchange transactions are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016, at which point U.S. Cellular expects to recognize additional gains.  See Note 5 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges for additional information related to these transactions.
• U.S. Cellular is focused on expanding its solutions available to business and government customers, including a growing suite of machine-to-machine solutions across various categories.  U.S. Cellular will continue to enhance its advanced wireless services and connected solutions for consumer, business and government customers.
• U.S. Cellular is committed to continuous innovation so as to provide customers in the markets it serves with the latest technology that can enhance their lives or businesses.  During the third quarter of 2016, U.S. Cellular successfully tested 5G technology in both indoor and outdoor environments for the first time.  The company plans additional tests geared towards understanding the propagation characteristics of the new technology and contributing to the development of 5G standards.  When deployed commercially, 5G technology is expected to help address customers’ growing demand for data services as well as create opportunities for new services requiring high speed and low latency.

3

Terms Used by U.S. Cellular

All defined terms in this MD&A are used as defined in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and additional terms are defined below:

• 4G LTE – fourth generation Long-Term Evolution which is a wireless broadband technology.
• 5G – fifth generation wireless broadband technology.
• Account – represents an individual or business financially responsible for one or multiple associated connections. Anaccount may include a variety of types of connections such as handsets and connected devices.
• Auction 97 – An FCC auction of AWS-3 spectrum licenses that ended in January 2015.
• Auctions 1000, 1001, and 1002 – Auction 1000 is an FCC auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses being held in 2016 involving: (1) a “reverse auction” in which broadcast television licensees submit bids to voluntarily relinquish spectrum usage rights in exchange for payments (referred to as Auction 1001); (2) a “repacking” of the broadcast television bands in order to free up certain broadcast spectrum for other uses; and (3) a “forward auction” of licenses for spectrum cleared through this process to be used for wireless communications (referred to as Auction 1002).
• Churn Rate – represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month.  These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.
• Connections -individual lines of service associated with each device activated by a customer.  This includes smartphones, feature phones, tablets, modems, and machine-to-machine devices.
• FCC – Federal Communications Commission.
• Gross Additions – represents the total number of newconnections added during the period, without regard to connections that were terminated during that period.
• Machine-to-Machine or M2M – technology that involves the transmission of data between networked devices, as well as the performance of actions by devices without human intervention.  U.S. Cellular sells and supports M2M solutions to customers, provides connectivity for M2M solutions via the U.S. Cellular network, and has partnerships with device manufacturers and software developers which offer M2M solutions.
• Net Additions– represents the total number of new connections added during the period,net of connections that were terminated during that period.
• Postpaid Average Billings per Account (“Postpaid ABPA”)–non-GAAP metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
• Postpaid Average Billings per User (“PostpaidABPU”)–non-GAAP metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid connections and by the number of months in the period.
• Postpaid Average Revenue per Account (“Postpaid ARPA”) – metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
• Postpaid Average Revenue per User (“Postpaid ARPU”) – metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid connectionsand by the number of months in the period. 
• Retail Connections – the sum of postpaid connections and prepaid connections.
• Smartphone Penetration – is calculated by dividing postpaid smartphone connections by postpaid handsetconnections.
• Universal Service Fund (“USF”) – A system of telecommunications collected fees and support payments managed by the FCC intended to promote universal access to telecommunications services in the United States.
• VoLTE – Voice over Long-Term Evolution is a technology specification that defines the standards and procedures for delivering voice communications and related services over 4G LTE networks.

4

Operational Overview

				YTD2015	YTD2016
	Postpaid Connections
		Gross Additions		591,000	586,000
		Net Additions		43,000	75,000
		Churn		1.41%	1.27%
			Handsets	1.32%	1.17%
			Connected Devices	2.31%	1.97%
		Connections – end of period		4,341,000	4,484,000
	Prepaid Net Additions			32,000	93,000
	Retail Connections– end of period			4,721,000	4,964,000
The increase in postpaid net additions in 2016 is driven by improvement in postpaid churn.  Postpaid churn declined over the past two years due to enhancements in the customer experience and improvement in the overall credit mix of gross additions.  In addition, U.S. Cellular continues to see growth in postpaid net additions from connected devices. The increase in prepaid net additions was due primarily to successful promotional activity.

5

Smartphones represented 92% and 87% of total postpaid handset sales for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  As a result, smartphone penetration increased to78% ofthe postpaid handset base as of September 30, 2016, up from 72%a year ago.  Smartphone customers generally use more data than feature phone customers, thereby driving growth in service revenues. Continued growth in customer usage related to data services andproducts may result in increased operating expenses and the need for additional investment in spectrum, network capacity and network enhancements.

1Thediscontinuation of the loyalty rewards points program had the effect of increasing Postpaid ARPU/ABPU and Postpaid ARPA/ABPA by $4.48 and $11.34 for the three months ended September 2015, respectively, and $1.50 and $3.74 for the nine months ended September 2015, respectively. 2  Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA are non-GAAP financial measures.  Refer to Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of this measure.

Postpaid ARPU and Postpaid ARPA decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 due primarily to the impact of the loyalty rewards points program that was discontinued in September 2015, industry-wide price competition, and discounts on shared data plans provided to customers on equipment installment plans and those providing their own device at the time of activation or renewal.  Postpaid ARPU also decreased due to growth in the number of connected devices, which on a per unit basis contribute less revenue than handsets.  These factors were partially offset by the impacts of continued adoption of smartphones and the related increase in service revenues from data usage. 

Equipment installment plans increase equipment sales revenue as customers pay for their wireless devices in installments at a total device price that is generally higher than the device price offered to customers in conjunction with alternative plans that are subject to a service contract. Equipment installment plans also have the impact of reducing service revenues as many equipment installment plans provide for reduced monthly access charges. In order to show the trends in total service and equipment revenues received, U.S. Cellular has presented Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA, which are calculated as Postpaid ARPU and Postpaid ARPA plus average monthly equipment installment plan billings per connection and account, respectively.

6

Equipment installment plan billings increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 due to increased adoption of equipment installment plans by postpaid customers.Postpaid ABPUand ABPA decreased in 2016 as the increase in equipment installment plan billings was more than offset by the decline in Postpaid ARPU and ARPA discussed above.  U.S. Cellular expects the adoption and penetration of equipment installment plans to continue to increase as plan offerings shift more toward equipment installment plans.Effective in September 2016, new postpaid handset sales to retail consumers are made under equipment installment plans; business and government customers may purchase equipment under either installment plans or alternative plans that are subject to a service contract.

7

Financial Overview

		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
						2016 vs.					2016 vs.
		2016		2015		2015	2016		2015			2015
(Dollars in millions)
Retail service		$	681	$	797	(14)%	$	2,044	$	2,278		(10)%
Inbound roaming			45		59	(25)%		118		149		(20)%
Other			45		40	12%		131		122		7%
	Service revenues		771		896	(14)%		2,293		2,549		(10)%
Equipment sales			239		173	38%		655		461		42%
	Total operating revenues		1,010		1,069	(6)%		2,948		3,010		(2)%
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortizationand accretion reported below)			196		199	(1)%		572		586		(2)%
Cost of equipment sold			280		287	(2)%		799		779		2%
Selling, general and administrative			370		375	(1)%		1,089		1,107		(2)%
			846		861	(2)%		2,460		2,472		-
	Operating cash flow*		164		208	(21)%		488		538		(9)%
Depreciation, amortizationand accretion			155		152	2%		462		450		3%
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			7		3	>100%		16		12		33%
(Gain) loss on sale of businessand other exit costs, net			–		(1)	N/M		–		(114)		100%
(Gain) loss on license salesand exchanges			(7)		(24)	70%		(16)		(147)		89%
	Total operating expenses		1,001		991	1%		2,922		2,673		9%
Operating income		$	9	$	78	(88)%	$	26	$	337		(92)%
Net income		$	18	$	65	(73)%	$	54	$	250		(78)%
Adjusted EBITDA*		$	216	$	257	(16)%	$	639	$	673		(5)%
Capital expenditures		$	103	$	135	(23)%	$	275	$	335		(18)%
*	Represents a non-GAAP financial measure.  Refer to Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of this measure.
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful

8

Service revenues consist of: Retail Service - Charges for access, airtime, roaming, recovery of regulatory costs and value added services, including data services and products Inbound Roaming - Charges to other wireless carriers whose customers use U.S. Cellular’s wireless systems when roaming Other – Primarily amounts received from the Federal USF and tower rental revenues Equipment revenues consist of: Sales of wireless devices and related accessories to new and existing customers, agents, and third-party distributors

Key components of changes in the statement of operations line items were as follows:

Total operating revenues

Service revenues decreasedfor the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 as a result of (i) a decrease in retail service revenues driven by the $58 million impact of the loyalty rewards program that ended in September 2015; (ii) industry-wide price competition, including discounts on shared data plans provided to customers on equipment installment plans and those providing their own device at the time of activation or renewal; and (iii) reductions ininbound roaming revenuesdriven by lower roaming rates.  Such reductions were partially offset by an increase in the average connections base and continued adoption of smartphones and shared data plans.

Federal USF revenue was $23 million and $69 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively,which remained flat when compared to the same periods last year. Pursuant to the FCC's Reform Order (“Reform Order”), U.S. Cellular’sFederal USF support was to be phased down at the rate of 20% per year beginning July 1, 2012. The Phase II Mobility Fund was not operational as of July 2014 and, therefore, as provided by the Reform Order, the phase down was suspended at 60% of the baseline amount. U.S. Cellular will continue to receiveUSF support at the 60% level until the FCC takes further action. At this time, U.S. Cellular cannot predict the changes that the FCC might make to the USFhigh cost support program and, accordingly, cannot predict whether such changes will have a material adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financialcondition or results of operations.

Equipment sales revenues increased for thethree months endedSeptember 30, 2016when compared to thethree months endedSeptember 30, 2015due primarily to a shift in mix to sales under equipment installment plans together with an increase in average revenue per device sold under such plans.  Equipment installment plan sales contributed $192 million and $89 million during the three months endedSeptember 30, 2016and 2015, respectively. 

Equipment sales revenues increased for thenine months endedSeptember 30, 2016when compared to the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2015due to an overall increase in the number of devices sold, and a shift in mix to sales under equipment installment plans together with an increase in average revenue per device sold under such plans.  Equipment installment plan sales contributed $501 million and $226 million during thenine months endedSeptember 30, 2016and 2015, respectively.  Equipment installment plan connections represented 40% and 23% of total postpaid connections as of September 30, 2016and 2015, respectively.

9

System operations expenses

System operations expenses decreased by modest amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 when compared to the same periods last year.

U.S. Cellular expects system operations expenses to increase in the future to support the continued growth in cell sites and other network facilities as it continues to add capacity, enhance quality and deploy new technologies as well as to support increases in total customer data usage.  However, these increases are expected to be offset to some extent by cost savings generated by shifting data traffic to the 4G LTE network from the 3G network.

Cost of equipment sold

Cost of equipment sold decreased for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2016 when compared to the three months endedSeptember 30, 2015 as a result of a decrease in the average cost per device sold driven by the lower cost of smartphones and to a lesser extent the lower sales of accessories.  Cost of equipment sold included $200 million and $113 million related to equipment installment plan sales for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Loss on equipment, defined as Equipment sales revenues less Cost of equipment sold, was $41 million and $114 million for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2016and 2015.

Cost of equipment sold increased for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 when compared to the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2015 primarily as the result of a 4% increase in devices sold, partially offset by a decrease in the average cost per device sold.  Cost of equipment sold included $534 million and $305 million related to equipment installment plan sales for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Loss on equipmentwas $144 million and $318 million for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by modest amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 when compared to the same periods last year.  This decrease was attributable to various expense reductions that were partially offset by a $13 million expense recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2016 as a result of the termination of a naming rights agreement.

Depreciation, amortization, and accretion expenses

The increases inDepreciation, amortization, and accretion expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were mainly driven by the increase in amortization expense related to billing system upgrades.

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

The increases in Loss on asset disposals were primarily driven by more disposals of certain network assets during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 when compared to the same periods last year.

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net

The net gain for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2015 was due primarily to a $108 million gain recognized on sale of towers and certain related contracts, assets and liabilities.

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

The net gains in 2016 and 2015 were due to gains recognized on license exchange transactions with third parties.  See Note 5 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchangesin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

10

Components of Other Income (Expense)
	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
					2016 vs.					2016 vs.
	2016		2015		2015	2016		2015		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Operating income	$	9	$	78	(88)%	$	26	$	337	(92)%
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		38		40	(5)%		110		110	-
Interest and dividend income		14		9	51%		41		26	59%
Interest expense		(28)		(21)	(32)%		(84)		(61)	(37)%
Other, net		–		–	20%		–		(1)	26%
Total investment and other income		24		28	(14)%		67		74	(10)%
Income before income taxes		33		106	(69)%		93		411	(77)%
Income tax expense		15		41	(63)%		39		161	(76)%
Net income		18		65	(73)%		54		250	(78)%
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling   interests, net of tax		1		1	(53)%		1		7	(84)%
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	17	$	64	(73)%	$	53	$	243	(78)%

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities represents U.S. Cellular’s share of net income from entities in which it has a noncontrolling interest and that are accounted for by the equity method. U.S. Cellular’s investment in the Los Angeles SMSA Limited Partnership (“LA Partnership”) contributed $17 million and $19 million to Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities for the three months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $57 million and $58 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

See Note 7 — Investments in Unconsolidated Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Interest and dividend income

Interest and dividend income increased due to imputed interest income recognized on equipment installment plans of $13 million and $9 million during the three months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and $37 million and $24 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Interest expense

The increase in Interest expense for thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2016 is primarily driven by U.S. Cellular’s issuance of $300 million of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064 in November 2015 and borrowing of $225 million on its senior term loan facility that was drawn in July 2015.

Income tax expense

U.S. Cellular’s effective tax rate on Income before income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was 46.0% and 41.4%, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was 38.5% and 39.2%, respectively.  The effective tax rates for the three and nine month periods primarily reflect a normalized combined rate of federal and state taxes, but are also affected by certain discrete items in each period which increase or decrease the effective tax rate for each period.  Because certain discrete items are not annualized, these rates may not be indicative of the annual rate for 2016.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

The decrease for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 is due primarily to lower income from certain partnerships in 2016.

11

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

U.S. Cellular operates a capital-intensive business.  Historically, U.S. Cellular has used internally-generated funds and also has obtained substantial funds from external sources for general corporate purposes.  In the past, U.S. Cellular’s existing cash and investment balances, funds available under its revolving credit facility, funds from other financing sources, including a term loan and other long-term debt, and cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, including sales of assets or businesses, provided sufficient liquidity and financial flexibility for U.S. Cellular to meet its normal day-to-day operating needs and debt service requirements, to finance the build-out and enhancement of markets and to fund acquisitions, primarily of spectrum licenses.  There is no assurance that this will be the case in the future. 

U.S. Cellular believes that existing cash and investment balances, funds available under its revolving credit facility, and expected cash flows from operating and investing activities provide liquidity for U.S. Cellular to meet its normal day-to-day operating needs and debt service requirements for the coming year.  Although U.S. Cellular currently has a significant cash balance, in certain recent periods, U.S. Cellular has incurred negative free cash flow (defined as Cash flows from operating activities less Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment) and this will continue in the future if operating results do not improve or capital expenditures are not reduced.  U.S. Cellular currently expects to have negative free cash flow in 2016 due to anticipated growth in equipment installment plan receivables combined with significant capital expenditures. 

U.S. Cellular may require substantial additional capital for, among other uses, funding day-to-day operating needs, working capital, acquisitions of providers of wireless telecommunications services, spectrum license or system acquisitions, system development and network capacity expansion, debt service requirements, the repurchase of shares, the payment of dividends, or making additional investments.  It may be necessary from time-to-time to increase the size of the existing revolving credit facility, to put in place a new credit facility, or to obtain other forms of financing in order to fund potential expenditures.  U.S. Cellular’s liquidity would be adversely affected if, among other things, U.S. Cellular is unable to obtain short or long-term financing on acceptable terms, U.S. Cellular makes significant spectrum license purchases in FCC auctions or from other parties, the LA Partnership discontinues or reduces distributions compared to historical levels, or Federal USF and/or other regulatory support payments continue to decline.  In addition, although sales of assets or businesses by U.S. Cellular have been an important source of liquidity in recent periods, U.S. Cellular does not expect a similar level of such sales in the future, which will reduce a source of liquidity.  In recent years, U.S. Cellular’s credit rating has declined to sub-investment grade. 

There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will continue to be available to U.S. Cellular or its subsidiaries on terms or at prices acceptable to U.S. Cellular.  Insufficient cash flows from operating activities, further changes in its credit ratings, defaults of the terms of debt or credit agreements, uncertainty of access to capital, deterioration in the capital markets, reduced regulatory capital at banks which in turn limits their ability to borrow and lend, other changes in the performance of U.S. Cellular or in market conditions or other factors could limit or restrict the availability of financing on terms and prices acceptable to U.S. Cellular, which could require U.S. Cellular to reduce its acquisition, capital expenditure and business development programs, reduce the acquisition of spectrum licenses, and/or reduce or cease share repurchases and/or the payment of dividends.   U.S. Cellular cannot provide assurance that circumstances that could have a material adverse effect on its liquidity or capital resources will not occur.  Any of the foregoing would have an adverse impact on U.S. Cellular’s businesses, financial condition or results of operations. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and money market investments. The primary objective of U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents is for use in its operations and acquisition, capital expenditure and business development programs.

At September 30, 2016, U.S. Cellular’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $674 million compared to $715 million at December 31, 2015.  The majority of U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents was held in bank deposit accounts and in money market funds that invest exclusively in U.S. Treasury Notes or in repurchase agreements fully collateralized by such obligations. U.S. Cellular monitors the financial viability of the money market funds and direct investments in which it invests and believes that the credit risk associated with these investments is low.

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Financing

U.S. Cellular has a revolving credit facility available for general corporate purposes.  In June 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into a new $300 million revolving credit agreement with certain lenders and other parties.  As a result of the new agreement, U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement due to expire in December 2017 was terminated.  Amounts under the new revolving credit facility may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time-to-time until maturity in June 2021.  Certain U.S. Cellular wholly-owned subsidiaries have jointly and severally unconditionally guaranteed the payment and performance of the obligations of U.S. Cellular under the revolving credit agreement.  As of September 30, 2016, there were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, except for letters of credit, and U.S. Cellular’s unused capacity under its revolving credit facility was $284 million.  The continued availability of the new revolving credit facility requires U.S. Cellular to comply with certain negative and affirmative covenants, maintain certain financial ratios and provide representations on certain matters at the time of each borrowing.  See Note 8 — Debtin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

In June 2016, U.S. Cellular also amended and restated its senior term loan credit facility.  Certain modifications were made to the financial covenants and subsidiary guarantees were added in order to align with the new revolving credit agreement.  There were no significant changes to the maturity date or other key terms of the agreement. 

U.S. Cellular believes it was in compliance with all of the financial covenants and requirements set forth in its revolving credit facility and the senior term loan credit facility as of September 30, 2016.

U.S. Cellular has in place an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to issue senior or subordinated debt securities.

The proceeds from any of the aforementioned financing facilities are available for general corporate purposes, including spectrum purchases and capital expenditures.

The long-term debt payments due for the remainder of 2016 and the next four years represent less than 3% of U.S. Cellular’s total long-term debt obligation measured as of September 30, 2016.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures (i.e., additions to property, plant and equipment and system development expenditures), which include accruals and capitalized interest, in 2016 and 2015were as follows:

U.S. Cellular’s capital expenditures for 2016 are expected to be approximately $500 million.  These expenditures are expected to be for the following general purposes:  Expand and enhance network coverage, including construction of a new regional connectivity center and provide additional capacity to accommodate increased network usage, principally data usage, by current customers; Deploy VoLTE technology; Expand and enhance the retail store network; and Develop and enhance business systems.

U.S. Cellular plans to finance its capital expenditures program for 2016 using primarily Cash flows from operating activities and, as necessary, existing cash balances and borrowings under its revolving credit agreement and/or other long-term debt.

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

U.S.Cellular may be engaged from time-to-time in negotiations relating to the acquisition, divestiture or exchange of companies, properties or wireless spectrum.  In general, U.S. Cellular may not disclose such transactions until there is a definitive agreement.  U.S.Cellular assesses its existing wireless interests on an ongoing basis with a goal of improving the competitiveness of its operations and maximizing its long-term return on capital.  As part of this strategy, U.S.Cellular reviews attractive opportunities to acquire additional wireless operating markets and wireless spectrum, including pursuant to FCC auctions. U.S.Cellular also may seek to divest outright or include in exchanges for other wireless interests those interests that are not strategic to its long-term success.

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On July 15, 2016, the FCC announced U.S. Cellular as a qualified bidder in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002, which then commenced on August 16, 2016. In recent FCC auctions, U.S. Cellular has not been a bidder, but has participated as a limited partner in “designated entities” that qualified for a 25% bidding credit on licenses won in the auction.  U.S. Cellular will not participate through a designated entity in Auction 1002.  See “Regulatory Matters — FCC Auction 1002.” Prior to becoming a qualified bidder, U.S. Cellular was required to make an upfront payment, the size of which established its initial bidding eligibility.Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2016, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million. If U.S. Cellular becomes a winning bidder in the auction, it could be required to make additional payments to the FCC that could be substantial. In such event, U.S. Cellular could finance such payments from its existing cash balances, borrowings under its revolving credit agreement and/or additional long-term debt. Further, if U.S. Cellular is not the winning bidder for any licenses, or is the winning bidder for licenses with an aggregate bid price that is less than the upfront payment, all or a portion of the upfront payment will be refunded to U.S. Cellular.

In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into multiple spectrum license purchase agreements.  The aggregate purchase price for these spectrum licenses is $56 million, of which $46 million closed in the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016.  In 2016, U.S. Cellular also entered into multiple agreements with third parties to transfer FCC licenses in non-operating markets and receive FCC licenses in operating markets.  The agreements provide for the transfer of certain AWS and PCS spectrum licenses and approximately $29 million, net, in cash to U.S. Cellular, in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain AWS, PCS and 700 MHz spectrum licenses to the third parties.  Through September 30, 2016, certain of the exchange transactions have closed and U.S. Cellular has received $15 million of cash in conjunction with such closed transactions.  The remaining license purchase and exchange transactions are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.  See Note 5 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchangesin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these transactions.

Variable Interest Entities

U.S.Cellular consolidates certain entities as “variable interest entities” under GAAP. See Note9 — Variable Interest Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these variable interest entities. U.S.Cellular may elect to make capital contributions and/or advances to variable interest entities in order to fund their operations.

Common Share Repurchase Program

U.S.Cellular has repurchased and expects to continue to repurchase its Common Shares, subject to its repurchase program. Share repurchases made under this program in 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2016		2015
Number of shares		46,861		153,878
Average cost per share	$	34.77	$	34.85
Dollar Amount (in millions)	$	2	$	5

For additional information related to the current repurchase authorization, see Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Contractual and Other Obligations

There were no material changes outside the ordinary course of businessbetween December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016to the Contractual and Other Obligations disclosed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

U.S.Cellular had no transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements with unconsolidated entities involving “off-balance sheet arrangements,” as defined by SEC rules, that had or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

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Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis

U.S. Cellular operates a capital- and marketing-intensive business.  U.S. Cellular makes substantial investments to acquire wireless licenses and properties and to construct and upgrade wireless telecommunications networks and facilities as a basis for creating long-term value for shareholders.  In recent years, rapid changes in technology and new opportunities have required substantial investments in potentially revenue‑enhancing and cost-reducing upgrades to U.S. Cellular’s networks.  U.S. Cellular utilizes cash on hand, cash from operating activities, cash proceeds from divestitures and dispositions of investments, short-term credit facilities and long-term debt financing to fund its acquisitions (including licenses), construction costs, operating expenses and share repurchases.  Cash flows may fluctuate from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year due to seasonality, the timing of acquisitions and divestitures, capital expenditures and other factors.  The following discussion summarizes U.S. Cellular's cash flow activities for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015.

2016 Commentary

U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents decreased $41 million in 2016.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $415 million in 2016 due primarily to net income of $54 million plus non-cash items of $450 million and distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $55 million, including a $10 million distribution from the LA Partnership.  This was partially offset by changes in working capital items which decreased cash by $144 million.  The decrease in working capital items was due primarily to a $160 million increase in equipment installment plan receivables, which are expected to continue to increase and further require the use of working capital in the near term. This was partially offset by a federal tax refund of $28 million related to an overpayment of the 2015 tax liability, which resulted from the enactment of federal bonus depreciation in December 2015. 

The net cash provided by operating activities was offset by Cash flows used for investing activities of $449 million.  Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $280 million.  In June 2016, U.S. Cellular made a deposit of $143 million to the FCC for its participation in Auction 1002.  Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses in 2016 was $46 million partially offset by Cash received from divestitures and exchanges of $20 million.  See Note 5 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these transactions.

Cash flows used for financing activities were $7 million, reflecting ordinary activity such as scheduled repayments of debt.

2015 Commentary

U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents increased $385 million in 2015.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $555 million in 2015 due to net income of $250 million plus non-cash items of $168 million, distributions received of $45 million and positive changes in working capital items of $92 million.The LA Partnership did not make a distribution in 2015.

Cash flows used for investing activities were $377 million in 2015.  Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $407 million in 2015.During 2015, a $278million payment was made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. (see Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) to the FCC for licenses for which it was the provisional winning bidder in Auction 97. Cash received from divestitures and exchanges in 2015 included $145 million related to licenses and $142 million related to the sale of 359 towers and certain related contracts, assets and liabilities. 

Cash flows from financing activities were $207 million due primarily to U.S. Cellular borrowing $225 million on its senior term loan credit facility in July 2015.

Other Information

In October 2016, U.S. Cellular was informed by the general partner of the LA Partnership that U.S. Cellular will receive a distribution of $19 million in November 2016.

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Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis

The following discussion addresses certain captions in the consolidated balance sheet and changes therein.  This discussion is intended to highlight the significant changes and is not intended to fully reconcile the changes.  Changes in financial condition during 2016 are as follows:

Other current assets

Other current assets decreased $30 million due primarily to the receipt of a federal income tax refund of $28 million in March 2016.

Assets held for sale

Assets held for sale increased $16 million due to reclassification of Licenses to this account as a result of exchanges with third parties.  The license exchange agreements are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.  See Note 5—Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Other assets and deferred charges

Other assets and deferred charges increased $195 million due primarily to an upfront payment of $143 million to the FCC to establish U.S. Cellular’s initial bidding eligibility for its participation in Auction 1002 and a $75 million increase in the long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net, due to the offering of longer term equipment installment plan contracts and the increased adoption of such contracts. See Note 3— Equipment Installment Plans and Note 5—Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these balances.

Other current liabilities

Other current liabilities decreased $27 million due primarily to a decline in the amounts due to agents driven by lower sales volume and mix shift to lower cost devices.

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Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

U.S. Cellularsometimes usesinformation derived from consolidated financial information but not presented initsfinancial statements prepared in accordance withU.S.GAAP to evaluate the performance ofitsbusiness. Certain of these measures are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Rules. Specifically,U.S. Cellularhasreferred to the following measures in this Form 10-Q Report:

• EBITDA
• Adjusted EBITDA
• Operating cash flow
• Free cash flow
• Adjusted free cash flow
• Postpaid ABPU

• Postpaid ABPA

Following are explanations of each of these measures.

Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Cash Flow

Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion) is defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation below. Operating cash flow is defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation below. Adjusted EBITDA and Operating cash flow are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity.  U.S. Cellular does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliation below are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future.

Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Operating cash flow as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate.  Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Operating cash flow are useful measures of U.S. Cellular’s operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented below as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of U.S. Cellular’s financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance.  Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, and gains and losses, while Operating cash flow reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities.  The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Operating cash flow to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income.

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		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Net income (GAAP)		$	18	$	65	$	54	$	250
Add back:
	Income tax expense		15		41		39		161
	Interest expense		28		21		84		61
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion		155		152		462		450
EBITDA (Non-GAAP)			216		279		639		922
Add back or deduct:
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		–		(1)		–		(114)
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net		(7)		(24)		(16)		(147)
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net		7		3		16		12
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)			216		257		639		673
Deduct:
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		38		40		110		110
	Interest and dividend income		14		9		41		26
	Other, net		–		–		–		(1)
Operating cash flow (Non-GAAP)			164		208		488		538
Deduct:
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion		155		152		462		450
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		–		(1)		–		(114)
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net		(7)		(24)		(16)		(147)
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net		7		3		16		12
Operating income (GAAP)		$	9	$	78	$	26	$	337

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Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow

The following table presentsFree cash flow andAdjusted free cash flow. Management uses Free cash flow as a liquidity measure and it is defined asCash flows from operating activitiesless Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment.Adjusted free cash flow is defined as Cash flows from operating activities (which includes cash outflows related to the Sprint decommissioning), as adjusted for cash proceeds from the Sprint Cost Reimbursement (which are included in Cash flows from investing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows), less Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment.Free cash flow andAdjusted free cash floware non-GAAP financial measureswhich U.S. Cellular believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of cash generated by business operations (including cash proceeds from the Sprint Cost Reimbursement), after Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment.

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP)		$	415	$	555
Less: Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment			280		407
	Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	135	$	148
Add: Sprint Cost Reimbursement1			5		28
	Adjusted free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	140	$	176
1	On May 16, 2013, pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement, U.S. Cellular sold customers and certain PCS spectrum licenses to subsidiaries of Sprint Corp. fka Sprint Nextel Corporation (“Sprint”) in U.S. Cellular’s Chicago, central Illinois, St. Louis and certain Indiana/Michigan/Ohio markets in consideration for $480 million in cash.  The Purchase and Sale Agreement also contemplated certain other agreements.  These agreements require Sprint to reimburse U.S. Cellular up to $200 million (the “Sprint Cost Reimbursement”) for certain network decommissioning costs, network site lease rent and termination costs, network access termination costs, and employee termination benefits for specified engineering employees.

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Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA

U.S. Cellular presents Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA to reflect the revenue shift from Service revenues to Equipment sales resulting from the increased adoption of equipment installment plans.  Postpaid ABPU and Postpaid ABPA, as previously defined, are non-GAAP financial measures which U.S. Cellular believes are useful to investors and other users of its financial information in showing trends in both service and equipment sales revenues received from customers. 

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars and connection counts in millions)
Calculation of Postpaid ARPU
Postpaid service revenues		$	635	$	755	$	1,910	$	2,156
Average number of postpaid connections			4.49		4.33		4.46		4.31
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ARPU (GAAP metric)	$	47.08	$	58.12	$	47.54	$	55.54
Calculation of Postpaid ABPU
Postpaid service revenues		$	635	$	755	$	1,910	$	2,156
Equipment installment plan billings			131		75		353		180
	Total billings to postpaid connections	$	766	$	830	$	2,263	$	2,336
Average number of postpaid connections			4.49		4.33		4.46		4.31
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ABPU (Non-GAAP metric)	$	56.79	$	63.88	$	56.34	$	60.15
Calculation of Postpaid ARPA
Postpaid service revenues		$	635	$	755	$	1,910	$	2,156
Average number of postpaid accounts			1.69		1.71		1.69		1.73
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ARPA (GAAP metric)	$	125.31	$	147.00	$	125.21	$	138.55
Calculation of Postpaid ABPA
Postpaid service revenues		$	635	$	755	$	1,910	$	2,156
Equipment installment plan billings			131		75		353		180
	Total billings to postpaid accounts	$	766	$	830	$	2,263	$	2,336
Average number of postpaid accounts			1.69		1.71		1.69		1.73
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ABPA (Non-GAAP metric)	$	151.16	$	161.57	$	148.37	$	150.06

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

U.S. Cellular prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. U.S. Cellular’s significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and U.S. Cellular’s Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates is discussed in detail in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both of which are included in U.S. Cellular’s Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  There were no material changes to U.S. Cellular’s application of critical accounting policies and estimates during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 — Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information on recent accounting pronouncements.

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Regulatory Matters

The discussion below includes updates related to recent regulatory developments. These updates should be read in conjunction with the disclosures previously provided under “Regulatory Matters” in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

FCC Auction 1002

On July 15, 2016, the FCC announced U.S. Cellular as a qualified bidder in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002. The first stage of forward auction bidding began on August 16, 2016 and ended on August 30, 2016 when the forward auction failed to reach the reserve price established by the FCC based on the first stage reverse auction.  The second stage of the reverse auction began on September 13, 2016 and was followed by a second stage forward auction which began and ended on October 19, 2016.  As necessary, the FCC will run additional reverse and forward auctions that will result in progressively lower prices in each reverse auction and less available spectrum for wireless carriers in each forward auction, until the prices in the reverse and forward auctions clear.  Following a final and successful stage of the forward auction, the FCC will conduct an Assignment Phase Auction to assign specific frequencies to winners of licenses.  It is expected that this process will continue into 2017.  As a result of its application to participate in Auction 1002, since February 10, 2016, U.S. Cellular has been subject to FCC anti-collusion rules that place certain restrictions on public disclosures and business communications with other companies relating to U.S. Cellular’s participation.  These restrictions will continue until the down payment deadline for Auction 1002, which will be ten business days after release of the FCC’s Channel Reassignment Public Notice, following the end of the auction.These anti-collusion rules, which could last a year or more fromFebruary 10, 2016, may restrict the conduct of certain U.S. Cellular activities with other auction applicants as well as with nationwide providers of wireless services which are not applicants.The restrictions could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

FCC Net Neutrality Order

U.S. Cellular previously disclosed that the FCC adopted rules relating to net neutrality which reclassified broadband internet access service under Title II, and that lawsuits had been filed challenging such rules and reclassification.  In June 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the FCC’s rules and reclassification.  A request for a rehearing of this decision was filed in July 2016, and it is expected that this court decision also will be appealed and subject to further proceedings.  U.S. Cellular cannot predict the outcome of any further proceedings or the impact on its business.

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Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of1995

Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement

This Form 10-Q, including exhibits, contains statements that are not based on historical facts and represent forward-looking statements, as this term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that U.S. Cellular intends, expects, projects, believes, estimates, plans or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements.  The words “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects” and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying them.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be significantly different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include those set forth below, as more fully described under “Risk Factors” in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  However, such factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this document.  Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements.  U.S. Cellular undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  You should carefully consider the Risk Factors in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the following factors and other information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this Form 10-Q to understand the material risks relating to U.S. Cellular’s business.

• Intense competition in the markets in which U.S. Cellular operates could adversely affect U.S. Cellular’s revenues or increase its costs to compete.
• A failure by U.S. Cellular to successfully execute its business strategy (including planned acquisitions, spectrum acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges) or allocate resources or capital could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• Uncertainty in U.S. Cellular’s future cash flow and liquidity or in the ability to access capital, deterioration in the capital markets, other changes in U.S. Cellular’s performance or market conditions, changes in U.S. Cellular’s credit ratings or other factors could limit or restrict the availability of financing on terms and prices acceptable to U.S. Cellular, which could require U.S. Cellular to reduce its construction, development or acquisition programs, reduce the acquisition of spectrum licenses, and/or reduce or cease share repurchases.
• U.S. Cellular has a significant amount of indebtedness which could adversely affect its financial performance and in turn adversely affect its ability to make payments on its indebtedness, comply with terms of debt covenants and incur additional debt.
• Changes in roaming practices or other factors could cause U.S. Cellular's roaming revenues to decline from current levels, roaming expenses to increase from current levels and/or impact U.S. Cellular's ability to service its customers in geographic areas where U.S. Cellular does not have its own network, which could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
• A failure by U.S. Cellular to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs and/or to accurately predict future needs for radio spectrum could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• To the extent conducted by the FCC, U.S. Cellular may participate in FCC auctions of additional spectrum in the future directly or indirectly and, during certain periods, will be subject to the FCC’s anti-collusion rules, which could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular.
• Changes in the regulatory environment or a failure by U.S.Cellular to timely or fully comply with any applicable regulatory requirements could adversely affect U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• An inability to attract people of outstanding potential, to develop their potential through education and assignments, and to retain them by keeping them engaged, challenged and properly rewarded could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
• U.S.Cellular’s assets are concentrated in the U.S.wireless telecommunications industry. Consequently, its operating results may fluctuate based on factors related primarily to conditions in this industry.
• U.S. Cellular’s smaller scale relative to larger competitors that may have much greater financial and other resources than U.S. Cellular could cause U.S. Cellular to be unable to compete successfully, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition or results of operations.
• Changes in various business factors, including changes in demand, customer preferences and perceptions, price competition, churn from customer switching activity and other factors, could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

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• Advances or changes in technology could render certain technologies used by U.S.Cellular obsolete, could put U.S. Cellular at a competitive disadvantage, could reduce U.S.Cellular’s revenues or could increase its costs of doing business.
• Complexities associated with deploying new technologies present substantial risk and U.S. Cellular investments in unproven technologies may not produce the benefits that U.S. Cellular expects.
• U.S. Cellular receives regulatory support and is subject to numerous surcharges and fees from federal, state and local governments, and the applicability and the amount of the support and fees are subject to great uncertainty.
• Performance under device purchase agreements could have a material adverse impact on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
• Changes in U.S.Cellular’s enterprise value, changes in the market supply or demand for wireless licenses, adverse developments in the business or the industry in which U.S.Cellular is involved and/or other factors could require U.S.Cellular to recognize impairments in the carrying value of its licenses, goodwill and/or physical assets.
• Costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or licenses and/or expansion of U.S.Cellular’s business could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• U.S. Cellular offers customers the option to purchase certain devices under installment contracts which, compared to fixed-term service contracts, includes risks that U.S. Cellular may possibly incur greater churn, lower cash flows, increased costs and/or increased bad debts expense due to differences in contract terms, which could have an adverse impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial condition or results of operations.
• A failure by U.S.Cellular to complete significant network construction and systems implementation activities as part of its plans to improve the quality, coverage, capabilities and capacity of its network, support and other systems and infrastructure could have an adverse effect on its operations.
• Difficulties involving third parties with which U.S. Cellular does business, including changes in U.S. Cellular's relationships with or financial or operational difficulties of key suppliers or independent agents and third party national retailers who market U.S. Cellular’s services, could adversely affect U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• U.S.Cellular has significant investments in entities that it does not control.  Losses in the value of such investments could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular’s financial condition or results of operations.
• A failure by U.S. Cellular to maintain flexible and capable telecommunication networks or information technology, or a material disruption thereof, could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• U.S. Cellular has experienced and, in the future, expects to experience cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security of varying degrees on a regular basis, which could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular's business, financial condition or results of operations.
• The market price of U.S.Cellular’s Common Shares is subject to fluctuations due to a variety of factors.
• Changes in facts or circumstances, including new or additional information, could require U.S.Cellular to record charges in excess of amounts accrued in the financial statements, which could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• Disruption in credit or other financial markets, a deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions or other events could, among other things, impede U.S. Cellular’s access to or increase the cost of financing its operating and investment activities and/or result in reduced revenues and lower operating income and cash flows, which would have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• Settlements, judgments, restraints on its current or future manner of doing business and/or legal costs resulting from pending and future litigation could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• The possible development of adverse precedent in litigation or conclusions in professional studies to the effect that radio frequency emissions from wireless devices and/or cell sites cause harmful health consequences, including cancer or tumors, or may interfere with various electronic medical devices such as pacemakers, could have an adverse effect on U.S.Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• Claims of infringement of intellectual property and proprietary rights of others, primarily involving patent infringement claims, could prevent U.S. Cellular from using necessary technology to provide products or services or subject U.S. Cellular to expensive intellectual property litigation or monetary penalties, which could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• There are potential conflicts of interests between TDS and U.S.Cellular.

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• Certain matters, such as control by TDS and provisions in the U.S.Cellular Restated Certificate of Incorporation, may serve to discourage or make more difficult a change in control of U.S.Cellular.
• Any of the foregoing events or other events could cause revenues, earnings, capital expenditures and/or any other financial or statistical information to vary from U.S.Cellular’s forward-looking estimates by a material amount.

Risk Factors

In addition to the information set forth in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which could materially affect U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or future results.  The risks described in this Form 10-Q and the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, may not be the only risks that could affect U.S. Cellular.  Additional unidentified or unrecognized risks and uncertainties could materially adversely affect U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition and/or operating results.  Subject to the foregoing, U.S. Cellular has not identified for disclosure any material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

MARKET RISK

Refer to the disclosure under Market Risk in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for additional information, including information regarding required principal payments and the weighted average interest rates related to U.S. Cellular’s Long-term debt.  There have been no material changes to such information since December 31, 2015.  See Note 8 — Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

See Note 2 — Fair Value Measurements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the fair value of U.S. Cellular’s Long-term debt as ofSeptember 30, 2016.

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Financial Statements

United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(Unaudited)

			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Operating revenues
	Service		$	771	$	896	$	2,293	$	2,549
	Equipment sales			239		173		655		461
		Total operating revenues		1,010		1,069		2,948		3,010
Operating expenses
	System operations (excluding Depreciation,   amortization and accretion reported below)			196		199		572		586
	Cost of equipment sold			280		287		799		779
	Selling, general and administrative (including charges   from affiliates of $21 million and $22 million, respectively,   for the three months, and $69 million and $66 million,   respectively, for the nine months)			370		375		1,089		1,107
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion			155		152		462		450
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			7		3		16		12
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			–		(1)		–		(114)
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			(7)		(24)		(16)		(147)
		Total operating expenses		1,001		991		2,922		2,673
Operating income				9		78		26		337
Investment and other income (expense)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			38		40		110		110
	Interest and dividend income			14		9		41		26
	Interest expense			(28)		(21)		(84)		(61)
	Other, net			–		–		–		(1)
		Total investment and other income		24		28		67		74
Income before income taxes				33		106		93		411
	Income tax expense			15		41		39		161
Net income				18		65		54		250
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling   interests, net of tax				1		1		1		7
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders			$	17	$	64	$	53	$	243
Basic weighted average shares outstanding				85		84		85		84
Basic earnings per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders			$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.89
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				85		85		85		85
Diluted earnings per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders			$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.86
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

					Nine Months Ended
					September 30,
					2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
	Net income				$	54	$	250
	Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows
		from operating activities
			Depreciation, amortization and accretion			462		450
			Bad debts expense			69		78
			Stock-based compensation expense			19		18
			Deferred income taxes, net			11		(20)
			Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			(110)		(110)
			Distributions from unconsolidated entities			55		45
			(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			16		12
			(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			–		(114)
			(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			(16)		(147)
			Noncash interest expense			1		1
			Other operating activities			(2)		–
	Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
			Accounts receivable			1		(54)
			Equipment installment plans receivable			(160)		(96)
			Inventory			2		91
			Accounts payable			45		117
			Customer deposits and deferred revenues			(41)		(51)
			Accrued taxes			38		161
			Accrued interest			7		11
			Other assets and liabilities			(36)		(87)
				Net cash provided by operating activities		415		555
Cash flows from investing activities
	Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment					(280)		(407)
	Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses					(46)		(286)
	Cash received from divestitures and exchanges					20		314
	Federal Communications Commission deposit					(143)		–
	Other investing activities					–		2
				Net cash used in investing activities		(449)		(377)
Cash flows from financing activities
	Issuance of long-term debt					–		225
	Repayment of long-term debt					(8)		–
	Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments					4		(1)
	Common shares repurchased					(2)		(4)
	Payment of debt issuance costs					(2)		(3)
	Acquisition of assets in common control transaction					–		(2)
	Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(1)		(6)
	Other financing activities					2		(2)
				Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(7)		207
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents						(41)		385
Cash and cash equivalents
	Beginning of period					715		212
	End of period				$	674	$	597
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheet — Assets

(Unaudited)

				September 30,		December 31,
				2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	674	$	715
	Accounts receivable
		Customers and agents, less allowances of $49 and $45, respectively			621		608
		Roaming			21		20
		Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively			46		44
	Inventory, net				140		149
	Prepaid expenses				80		81
	Other current assets				25		55
			Total current assets		1,607		1,672
Assets held for sale					16		–
Licenses					1,866		1,834
Goodwill					370		370
Investments in unconsolidated entities					420		363
Property, plant and equipment
	In service and under construction				7,609		7,669
	Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization				5,151		5,020
			Property, plant and equipment, net		2,458		2,649
Other assets and deferred charges					367		172
Total assets1				$	7,104	$	7,060
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheet — Liabilities and Equity

(Unaudited)

				September 30,		December 31,
				2016		2015
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Current liabilities
	Current portion of long-term debt			$	11	$	11
	Accounts payable
		Affiliated			9		10
		Trade			300		275
	Customer deposits and deferred revenues				204		251
	Accrued taxes				29		28
	Accrued compensation				64		68
	Other current liabilities				78		105
			Total current liabilities		695		748
Deferred liabilities and credits
	Deferred income tax liability, net				831		821
	Other deferred liabilities and credits				311		290
Long-term debt, net					1,621		1,629
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features					1		1
Equity
	U.S. Cellular shareholders’ equity
		Series A Common and Common Shares
			Authorized 190 shares (50 Series A Common and 140 Common Shares)
			Issued 88 shares (33 Series A Common and 55 Common Shares)
			Outstanding 85 shares (33 Series A Common and 52 Common Shares) and 84 shares (33 Series A Common and 51 Common Shares), respectively
			Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)		88		88
		Additional paid-in capital			1,516		1,497
		Treasury shares, at cost, 3 and 4 Common Shares, respectively			(136)		(157)
		Retained earnings			2,167		2,133
			Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,635		3,561
	Noncontrolling interests				10		10
		Total equity			3,645		3,571
Total liabilities and equity1				$	7,104	$	7,060
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1		The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include assets held by consolidated VIEs of $828 million and $658 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of U.S. Cellular.  The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $18 million and $1 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular.  See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

(Unaudited)

	U.S. Cellular Shareholders
	Series A Common and Common shares		Additional paid-in capital		Treasury shares		Retained earnings		Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		Noncontrolling interests		Total equity
(Dollars in millions)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	88	$	1,497	$	(157)	$	2,133	$	3,561	$	10	$	3,571
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders		–		–		–		53		53		–		53
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   classified as equity		–		–		–		–		–		1		1
Repurchase of Common shares		–		–		(2)		–		(2)		–		(2)
Incentive and compensation plans		–		–		23		(19)		4		–		4
Stock-based compensation awards		–		19		–		–		19		–		19
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		–		–		–		–		–		(1)		(1)
Balance, September 30, 2016	$	88	$	1,516	$	(136)	$	2,167	$	3,635	$	10	$	3,645
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

(Unaudited)

	U.S. Cellular Shareholders
	Series A Common and Common shares		Additional paid-in capital		Treasury shares		Retained earnings		Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		Noncontrolling interests		Total equity
(Dollars in millions)
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	88	$	1,473	$	(169)	$	1,910	$	3,302	$	11	$	3,313
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders		–		–		–		243		243		–		243
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests   classified as equity		–		–		–		–		–		2		2
Repurchase of Common shares		–		–		(5)		–		(5)		–		(5)
Incentive and compensation plans		–		–		14		(16)		(2)		–		(2)
Stock-based compensation awards		–		17		–		–		17		–		17
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		–		–		–		–		–		(1)		(1)
Acquisition of assets in common control transaction		–		1		–		(2)		(1)		–		(1)
Balance, September 30, 2015	$	88	$	1,491	$	(160)	$	2,135	$	3,554	$	12	$	3,566
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1Basis of Presentation

United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”), a Delaware corporation, is an 83%-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”).

The accounting policies of U.S. Cellular conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of U.S. Cellular, subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, general partnerships in which U.S. Cellular has a majority partnership interest and certain entities in which U.S. Cellular has a variable interest that require consolidation under GAAP. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by U.S. Cellular pursuant to the rulesand regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rulesand regulations.  However, U.S. Cellular believes that the disclosures included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Calculated amounts and percentages are based on the underlying actual numbers rather than the numbers rounded to millions as presented.  These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form10-K (“Form10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of U.S. Cellular’s financial position as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and its cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015.  The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”) and has since amended the standard with Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date, Accounting Standards Update 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), Accounting Standards Update 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended, on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2017 is permitted; however, U.S. Cellular does not intend to adopt early.  ASU 2014-09, as amended, impacts U.S. Cellular’s revenue recognition related to the allocation of contract revenues between various services and equipment, and the timing of when those revenues are recognized.  In addition, the new requirements require deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  U.S. Cellular expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  U.S. Cellular is currently evaluating the guidance, developing its implementation plan, and evaluating the effects ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and results of operations upon adoption.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”).  ASU 2014-15 requires U.S. Cellular to assess its ability to continue as a going concern each interim and annual reporting period and provide certain disclosures if there is substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, including management’s plan to alleviate the substantial doubt.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15 for the annual period ending December 31, 2016.  The adoption of ASU 2014-15 will not impact U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations but may impact future disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”), which requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-01,Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities(“ASU 2016-01”). This ASU introduces changes to current accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018. Certain provisions are eligible for early adoption. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

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In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”).  ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability for almost all leases.  This ASU does not substantially impact lessor accounting.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, U.S. Cellular expects a substantial increase to assets and liabilities on its balance sheet.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the full effects that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-04, Liabilities – Extinguishments of Liabilities: Recognition of Breakage from Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products (“ASU 2016-04”). ASU 2016-04 requires companies that sell prepaid stored-value products redeemable for goods, services or cash at third-party merchants to recognize breakage (i.e., the value that is ultimately not redeemed by the consumer) in a way that is consistent with how it will be recognized under the new revenue recognition standard.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-04 on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-04 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”).  ASU 2016-09 intends to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  U.S. Cellular will adopt ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017.  The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 requires entities to use a new forward-looking, expected loss model to estimate credit losses.  It also requires additional disclosure relating to the credit quality of trade and other receivables, including information relating to management’s estimate of credit allowances.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2019 is permitted.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”).  ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on eight targeted cash flow classification issues.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its statement of cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-16, Income Taxes:Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”).  ASU 2016-16 impacts the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs between entities in different tax jurisdictions.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-16 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2016-16 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-17, Consolidation:Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control (“ASU 2016-17”).  ASU 2016-17 provides guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in an entity held through related parties that are under common control.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-17 on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-17 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

U.S. Cellular records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities net within a tax liability account if the tax is assessed upon the customer and U.S. Cellular merely acts as an agent in collecting the tax on behalf of the imposing governmental authority.  If the tax is assessed upon U.S. Cellular, then amounts collected from customers as recovery of the tax are recorded in Service revenues and amounts remitted to governmental authorities are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  The amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities totaled $15 million and $49 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $19 million and $60 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

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Note 2Fair Value Measurements

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, U.S. Cellular did not have any financial or nonfinancial assets or liabilities that were required to be recorded at fair value in its Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP.

The provisions of GAAP establish a fair value hierarchy that contains three levels for inputs used in fair value measurements.  Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.  Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in inactive markets.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable.  A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is not representative of its expected performance or its overall risk profile and, therefore, Level 3 assets are not necessarily higher risk than Level 2 or Level 1 assets.

U.S. Cellular has applied the provisions of fair value accounting for purposes of computing the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes as displayed below.

		Level within the Fair Value Hierarchy	September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
			Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	674	$	674	$	715	$	715
Long-term debt
	Retail	2		917		978		917		929
	Institutional	2		533		555		533		501
	Other	2		205		205		214		214

The fair value of Cash and cash equivalents approximates the book value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.  Long-term debt excludes capital lease obligations and the current portion of Long-term debt.  The fair value of “Retail” Long-term debt was estimated using market prices for the 6.95% Senior Notes, 7.25% Senior Notes due 2063 and 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064.  U.S. Cellular’s “Institutional” debt consists of the 6.7% Senior Notes which are traded over the counter.  U.S. Cellular’s “Other” debt consists of a senior term loan credit facility.  U.S. Cellular estimated the fair value of its Institutional and Other debt through a discounted cash flow analysis using the interest rates or estimated yield to maturity for each borrowing, which ranged from 3.57% to 6.50% and 3.19% to 7.51% at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

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Note 3Equipment Installment Plans

U.S. Cellular sells devices to customers, through its owned and agent distribution channels, under equipment installment contracts over a specified time period.  For certain equipment installment plans (“EIP”), after a specified period of time or amount of payments, the customer may have the right to upgrade to a new device and have the remaining unpaid equipment installment contract balance waived, subject to certain conditions, including trading in the original device in good working condition and signing a new equipment installment contract.  U.S. Cellular values this trade-in right as a guarantee liability.  The guarantee liability is initially measured at fair value and is determined based on assumptions including the probability and timing of the customer upgrading to a new device and the fair value of the device being traded-in at the time of trade-in.  As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the guarantee liability related to these plans was $44 million and $93 million, respectively, and is reflected in Customer deposits and deferred revenues in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

U.S. Cellular equipment installment plans do not provide for explicit interest charges.  For equipment installment plans with a duration of greater than twelve months, U.S. Cellular imputes interest.  U.S. Cellular records imputed interest as a reduction to the related accounts receivable and it is recognized over the term of the installment agreement.  Equipment installment plan receivables had a weighted average effective imputed interest rate of 10.7% and 9.7% as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The following table summarizes unbilled equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  Such amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Accounts receivable – customers and agents and Other assets and deferred charges, where applicable.

	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
(Dollars in millions)
Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	339	$	279
Short-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		(33)		(21)
Short-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		(22)		(14)
Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	284	$	244
Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	165	$	76
Long-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		(9)		(2)
Long-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		(13)		(6)
Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	143	$	68

U.S. Cellular assesses the collectability of the equipment installment plan receivables based on historical payment experience, account aging and other qualitative factors and provides an allowance for estimated losses.  The credit profiles of U.S. Cellular’s customers on equipment installment plans are similar to those of U.S. Cellular customers with traditional subsidized plans.  Customers with a higher risk credit profile are required to make a down payment for equipment purchased through an installment contract.

U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions occurring in 2015 and 2016 (“2016 EIP adjustments”).  For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the 2016 EIP adjustments had the impact of increasing Equipment sales revenues by $4 million, decreasing bad debts expense, which is a component of Selling, general and administrative expense, by $2 million and increasing Income before income taxes by $6 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the 2016 EIP adjustments had the impact of increasing Equipment sales revenues by $2 million, decreasing bad debts expense by $2 million and increasing Income before income taxes by $4 million.Additionally, U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions (“2015 EIP adjustments”) that were attributable to 2014.  The 2015 EIP adjustments had the impact of reducing Equipment sales revenues and Income before income taxes by $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The 2015 EIP adjustments were made in the first six months of 2015.  U.S. Cellular has determined that these adjustments were not material to any of the periods impacted.

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Note 4Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted to include the effects of potentially dilutive securities.  Potentially dilutive securities primarily include incremental shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units.

The amounts used in computing earnings per common share and the effects of potentially dilutive securities on the weighted average number of common shares were as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	17	$	64	$	53	$	243
Weighted average number of shares used in basic   earnings per share		85		84		85		84
Effects of dilutive securities		–		1		–		1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted   earnings per share		85		85		85		85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.89
Diluted earnings per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.86

Certain Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock units were not included in average diluted shares outstanding for the calculation of Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders because their effects were antidilutive.  The number of such Common Shares excluded was 3 million shares for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

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Note 5Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to exchange certain 700 MHz licenses for certain AWS and PCS licenses and $28 million of cash.  This license exchange will be accomplished in two closings.  The first closing occurred in the second quarter of 2016 at which time U.S. Cellular received $13 million of cash and recorded a gain of $9 million.  The second closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2016 and U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain at that time.  As a result of this exchange, the remaining licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016.

In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party that provided for the transfer of certain AWS spectrum licenses and $2 million in cash to U.S. Cellular, in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain AWS, PCS and 700 MHz licenses with a carrying value of $7 million to the third party.  This transaction closed in the third quarter of 2016, at which time U.S. Cellular recorded a gain of $7 million.

In March 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party to transfer FCC licenses in non-operating markets and receive FCC licenses in operating markets.  The agreement provides for the transfer of certain AWS and PCS spectrum licenses to U.S. Cellular in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain PCS spectrum licenses and $1 million of cash to the third party.  This transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Upon closing of this transaction, U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain.  As a result of this additional exchange agreement, licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as ofSeptember 30, 2016.

In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into multiple agreements to purchase spectrum licenses located in U.S. Cellular’s existing operating markets.  The aggregate purchase price for these spectrum licenses is $56 million, of which $46 million closed in the second quarter of 2016.  The remaining agreements are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.

U.S. Cellular is participating in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002, which commenced in August 2016.  In the second quarter of 2016, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million to establish its initial bidding eligibility.

Note 6Intangible Assets

Changes in U.S. Cellular’s Licenses for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 are presented below. There were no changes to Goodwill during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016.

Licenses
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2015¹		$	1,834
	Acquisitions		46
	Transferred to Assets held for sale		(16)
	Exchanges - Licenses received		12
	Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(10)
Balance September 30, 2016		$	1,866
1	Amounts include payments totaling $338 million made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. to the FCC for licenses in which it was the provisional winning bidder in Auction 97.  These licenses were granted by the FCC in July 2016.  See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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Note 7Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless entities in which U.S. Cellular holds a noncontrolling interest.  These investments are accounted for using either the equity or cost method.

The following table, which is based in part on information provided by third parties, summarizes the combined results of operations of U.S. Cellular’s equity method investments.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues	$	1,674	$	1,733	$	4,992	$	5,184
Operating expenses		1,249		1,263		3,647		3,827
Operating income		425		470		1,345		1,357
Other income (expense), net		(2)		(10)		(9)		(15)
Net income	$	423	$	460	$	1,336	$	1,342

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Note 8Debt

Revolving Credit Facilities

U.S. Cellular has a revolving credit facility available for general corporate purposes.  In June 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into a new $300 million revolving credit agreement with certain lenders and other parties.  As a result of the new agreement, U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement due to expire in December 2017 was terminated.  Amounts under the new revolving credit facility may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time-to-time until maturity in June 2021.  As of September 30, 2016, there were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, except for letters of credit.  Interest expense representing commitment fees on the unused portion of the revolving line of credit was $1 million for each of the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015. 

The following table summarizes the terms of the revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2016:

(Dollars in millions)
Maximum borrowing capacity		$	300
Letters of credit outstanding		$	16
Amount borrowed		$	–
Amount available for use		$	284
Illustrative borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread1			2.28%
	Illustrative LIBOR Rate		0.53%
	Contractual spread		1.75%
Commitment fees on amount available for use2			0.30%
Agreement date			June 2016
Maturity date			June 2021
1	Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest either at a LIBOR rate or at an alternative Base Rate as defined in the revolving credit agreement, plus an applicable margin, at U.S. Cellular’s option.  U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders).
2	The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

The new revolving credit agreement includes the following financial covenants:

• Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio may not be less than 3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.
• Consolidated Leverage Ratio may not be greater than the ratios indicated as of the end of any fiscal quarter for each period specified below:

Period	Ratios
From the agreement date of June 15, 2016 through June 30, 2019	3.25 to 1.00
From July 1, 2019 and thereafter	3.00 to 1.00

Certain U.S. Cellular wholly-owned subsidiaries have jointly and severally unconditionally guaranteed the payment and performance of the obligations of U.S. Cellular under the revolving credit agreement pursuant to a guaranty dated June 15, 2016.  Other subsidiaries that meet certain criteria will be required to provide a similar guaranty in the future.  U.S. Cellular believes it was in compliance with all of the financial and other covenants and requirements set forth in the revolving credit facility as ofSeptember 30, 2016.

At September 30, 2016, U.S. Cellular had recorded $3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the revolving credit facility which is included in Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Included in that amount was $2 million related to the new revolving credit facility.

Term Loan

In June 2016, U.S. Cellular also amended and restated its senior term loan credit facility.  Certain modifications were made to the financial covenants and subsidiary guarantees were added in order to align with the new revolving credit agreements.  There were no significant changes to the maturity date or other key terms of the agreement.

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Note 9Variable Interest Entities

In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”).  ASU 2015-02 changes consolidation accounting including revising certain criteria for identifying variable interest entities.  U.S. Cellular adopted the provisions of this standard as of January 1, 2016.  As a result, certain consolidated subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities that were not defined as variable interest entities under previous accounting guidance are defined as variable interest entities under the provisions of ASU 2015-02.  U.S. Cellular’s modified retrospective adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not change the group of entities which U.S. Cellular is required to consolidate in its financial statements.  Accordingly, the adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not impact its financial position or results of operations.

Consolidated VIEs

U.S. Cellular consolidates variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which it has a controlling financial interestas defined by GAAP and is therefore deemed the primary beneficiary.  A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE.  U.S. Cellular reviews these criteria initially at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when events warranting reconsideration occur.These VIEshave risks similar to those described in the “Risk Factors” in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The following VIEs were formed to participate in FCC auctions of wireless spectrum and to fund, establish, and provide wireless service with respect to any FCC licenses won in the auctions:

• Advantage Spectrum L.P. (“Advantage Spectrum”) and Frequency Advantage L.P., the general partner of Advantage Spectrum;
• Aquinas Wireless L.P. (“Aquinas Wireless”); and
• King Street Wireless L.P. (“King Street Wireless”) and King Street Wireless, Inc., the general partner of King Street Wireless.

These particular VIEs are collectively referred to as designated entities.  Historically and as of September 30, 2016, U.S. Cellular consolidated these VIEs. 

The power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these VIEs is shared.  Specifically, the general partner of these VIEs has the exclusive right to manage, operate and control the limited partnerships and make all decisions to carry on the business of the partnerships.  The general partner of each partnership needs the consent of the limited partner, an indirect U.S. Cellular subsidiary, to sell or lease certain licenses, to make certain large expenditures, admit other partners or liquidate the limited partnerships.  Although the power to direct the activities of these VIEs is shared, U.S. Cellular has the most significant level of exposure to the variability associated with the economic performance of the VIEs, indicating that U.S. Cellular is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.  Therefore, in accordance with GAAP, these VIEs are consolidated.

In March 2015, King Street Wireless made a $60 million distribution to its owners. Of this distribution, $6 million was provided to King Street Wireless, Inc. and $54 million was provided to U.S. Cellular.

FCC Auction 97 ended in January 2015.  U.S. Cellular participated in Auction 97 indirectly through its interest in Advantage Spectrum.  An indirect subsidiary of U.S. Cellular is a limited partner in Advantage Spectrum.  Advantage Spectrum applied as a designated entity, and received bid credits with respect to spectrum purchased in Auction 97.  Advantage Spectrum was the winning bidder for 124 licenses for an aggregate bid of $338 million, after its designated entity discount of 25%. This amount is classified as Licenses in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Advantage Spectrum’s bid amount, less the initial deposit of $60 million paid in 2014, plus certain other charges totaling $2 million, was paid to the FCC in March 2015. These licenses were granted by the FCC in July 2016. 

U.S. Cellular also consolidates other VIEs that are limited partnerships that provide wireless service.  ASU 2015-02 modified the manner in which limited partnerships and similar legal entities are evaluated under the variable interest model.  A limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless the limited partners hold substantive participating rights or kick-out rights over the general partners.  For certain limited partnerships, U.S. Cellular is the general partner and manages the operations.  In these partnerships, the limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights and, further, such limited partners do not have the authority to remove the general partner.  Therefore, beginning January 1, 2016, these limited partnerships are also recognized as VIEs and are consolidated under the variable interest model.  Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-02, these limited partnerships were consolidated under the voting interest model.

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The following table presents the classification and balances of the consolidated VIEs’ assets and liabilities in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

			September 30,		December 31,
			2016¹		2015¹
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	2	$	1
	Accounts receivable			43		–
	Other current assets			7		–
	Assets held for sale			2		–
	Licenses2			652		649
	Property, plant and equipment, net			108		8
	Other assets and deferred charges			14		–
		Total assets	$	828	$	658
Liabilities
	Current liabilities		$	22	$	–
	Deferred liabilities and credits			12		1
		Total liabilities	$	34	$	1
1		The increase in amounts from December 31, 2015 are primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2015-02 as disclosed above.  ASU 2015-02 was adopted on a modified retrospective basis and, accordingly, prior year amounts have not been revised to reflect the change in guidance.
2		As disclosed above, payments totaling $338 million were made by Advantage Spectrum to the FCC relating to Auction 97.  These licenses were granted and issued as of September 30, 2016.  Although the licenses had not yet been granted as of December 31, 2015, the payments to the FCC were classified as Licenses at such date.

Unconsolidated VIEs

U.S. Cellular manages the operations of and holds a variable interest in certain other limited partnerships, but is not the primary beneficiary of these entities and, therefore, does not consolidate them under the variable interest model outlined in ASU 2015-02.

U.S. Cellular’s total investment in these unconsolidated entities was $6 million and $5 million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and is included in Investments in unconsolidated entities in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The maximum exposure from unconsolidated VIEs is limited to the investment held by U.S. Cellular in those entities. 

Other Related Matters

U.S. Cellular made contributions, loans and/or advances to its VIEs totaling $100 million and $281 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.  U.S. Cellular may agree to make additional capital contributions and/or advances to these or other VIEs and/or to their general partners to provide additional funding for operations or the development of licenses granted in various auctions.  U.S. Cellular may finance such amounts with a combination of cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit agreement and/or other long-term debt.  There is no assurance that U.S. Cellular will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all to provide such financial support.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments attributable to the third quarter of 2013 through the second quarter of 2015 related to an agreement with King Street Wireless.  U.S. Cellular determined that these adjustments were not material to the quarterly periods or the annual results for 2015.  These out-of-period adjustments had the impact of reducing Net income by $3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, and Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by $5 million and $4 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

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United States Cellular Corporation

Additional Required Information

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

U.S. Cellular maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules13a-15(e)and 15d-15(e)under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is processed, recorded, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rulesand forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to U.S. Cellular’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

As required by SEC Rule13a-15(b), U.S. Cellular carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of U.S. Cellular’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based on this evaluation, U.S. Cellular’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that U.S. Cellular’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2016, at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in internal controls over financial reporting that have occurred during the quarter endedSeptember 30, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, U.S. Cellular’s internal control over financial reporting.

Legal Proceedings

Refer to the disclosure under Legal Proceedings in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  There have been no material changes to such information since December 31, 2015.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On November 20, 2009, U.S. Cellular announced by Form 8-K that the Board of Directors of U.S. Cellular authorized the repurchase of up to 1,300,000 Common Shares on an annual basis beginning in 2009 and continuing each year thereafter, on a cumulative basis.  Depending on market conditions, such shares may be repurchased in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, or pursuant to accelerated share repurchase arrangements, prepaid share repurchases, private transactions or as otherwise authorized.  This authorization does not have an expiration date.  U.S. Cellular did not determine to terminate the foregoing Common Share repurchase program, or cease making further purchases thereunder, during the third quarter of 2016.

The following table provides certain information with respect to all purchases made by or on behalf of U.S. Cellular, and any open market purchases made by any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined by the SEC) of U.S. Cellular, of U.S. Cellular Common Shares during the quarter covered by this Form 10-Q.

Period		Total Number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share	Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 – 31, 2016		–	$	–	–	6,008,437
August 1 – 31, 2016		–		–	–	6,008,437
September 1 – 30, 2016		–		–	–	6,008,437
	Total for or as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2016	–	$	–	–	6,008,437

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Other Information

The following information is being provided to update prior disclosures made pursuant to the requirements of Form 8-K, Item 2.03 — Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

A description of U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit facility is included in U.S. Cellular’s Current Report on Form8-K dated June 15, 2016, and is incorporated by reference herein.

U.S. Cellular did not borrow or repay any cash amounts under its revolving credit facility in the third quarter of 2016 or through the filing date of this Form 10-Q. U.S. Cellular had no cash borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2016 or as of the filing date of this Form 10-Q. 

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Exhibits

Exhibit 4.1	Revolving Credit Agreement, among U.S. Cellular, Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC, as administrative agent, and the other lenders thereto, dated as of June 15, 2016, including Schedules and Exhibits, including the form of the subsidiary Guaranty and Subordination Agreement, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to U.S. Cellular's Form 8-K dated June 15, 2016.
Exhibit 4.2	Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, among U.S. Cellular and CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent, and the other lenders thereto, dated as of June 15, 2016, including Schedules and Exhibits, including the forms of the subsidiary Guaranty and Subordination Agreement, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to U.S. Cellular's Form 8-K dated June 15, 2016.
Exhibit 10.1	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Option Award Agreement for Officers other than the President and CEO, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to U.S. Cellular’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 14, 2016.
Exhibit 10.2	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Officers other than the President and CEO, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to U.S. Cellular’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 14, 2016.
Exhibit 10.3	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Option Award Agreement for the President and CEO, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to U.S. Cellular’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 14, 2016.
Exhibit 10.4	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for the President and CEO, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to U.S. Cellular’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 14, 2016.
Exhibit 10.5	United States Cellular Corporation 2016 Officer Annual Incentive Plan effective January 1, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to U.S. Cellular's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 7, 2016.
Exhibit 10.6	U.S. Cellular 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, is hereby incorporated by reference from Exhibit B to the U.S. Cellular definitive proxy statement dated April 12, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 12, 2016.
Exhibit 10.7	Amendment No. 1 to U.S. Cellular 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan, is hereby incorporated by reference from Exhibit A to the U.S. Cellular definitive proxy statement dated April 12, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 12, 2016.
Exhibit 11	Statement regarding computation of per share earnings is included herein as Note 4 — Earnings Per Share in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Exhibit 12	Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
Exhibit 31.1	Principal executive officer certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exhibit 31.2	Principal financial officer certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exhibit 32.1	Principal executive officer certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
Exhibit 32.2	Principal financial officer certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
Exhibit 101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
Exhibit 101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Exhibit 101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document
Exhibit 101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

The foregoing exhibits include only the exhibits that relate specifically to this Form 10-Q or that supplement the exhibits identified in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  Reference is made to U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for a complete list of exhibits, which are incorporated herein except to the extent supplemented or superseded above.

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Form 10-Q Cross Reference Index
Item Number			Page No.
Part I.	Financial Information
	Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited)	25 - 30
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	31 - 40
	Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	1 - 24
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	24
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	41
Part II.	Other Information
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	41
	Item1A.	Risk Factors	24
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	41
	Item 5.	Other Information	42
	Item 6.	Exhibits	43
Signatures			45

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
		(Registrant)
Date:	November 4, 2016		/s/ Kenneth R. Meyers
			Kenneth R. Meyers President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
Date:	November 4, 2016		/s/ Steven T. Campbell
			Steven T. Campbell Executive Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer)
Date:	November 4, 2016		/s/ Douglas D. Shuma
			Douglas D. Shuma Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)
Date:	November 4, 2016		/s/ Kristin A. MacCarthy
			Kristin A. MacCarthy Vice President and Controller

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EX-12

Exhibit 12

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,
			2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
EARNINGS:
	Income before income taxes1		$	93	$	411
	Add (deduct):
		Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		(110)		(110)
		Distributions from unconsolidated entities		55		45
		Amortization of capitalized interest		5		4
		Income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries   that do not have fixed charges		–		(6)
			$	43	$	344
	Add fixed charges:
		Consolidated interest expense2		84		61
		Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense		40		38
			$	167	$	443
FIXED CHARGES:
		Consolidated interest expense2	$	84	$	61
		Capitalized interest		1		3
		Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense		40		38
			$	125	$	102
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES				1.34		4.34
1		Includes Gain on sale of business and other exit costs, net of $114 million in 2015.  Additionally, includes $16 million and $147 million of Gain on license sales and exchanges, net in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
2		Interest expense on income tax contingencies is not included in fixed charges.

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of principal executive officer

I, Kenneth R. Meyers, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of United States Cellular Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

1. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
2. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
3. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
4. disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

1. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
2. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:November 4, 2016

/s/ Kenneth R. Meyers

Kenneth R. Meyers

President and Chief Executive Officer

(principal executive officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of principal financial officer

I, Steven T. Campbell, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of United States Cellular Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

1. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
2. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
3. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
4. disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

1. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
2. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:November 4, 2016

/s/ Steven T. Campbell

Steven T. Campbell

Executive Vice President-Finance,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(principal financial officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63

of Title 18 of the United States Code

I, Kenneth R. Meyers, the principal executive officer of United States Cellular Corporation, certify that (i) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2016 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of United States Cellular Corporation.

/s/ Kenneth R. Meyers

Kenneth R. Meyers

November 4, 2016

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to United States Cellular Corporation and will be retained by United States Cellular Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification Pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63

of Title 18 of the United States Code

I, Steven T. Campbell, the principal financial officer of United States Cellular Corporation, certify that (i) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2016 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of United States Cellular Corporation.

/s/ Steven T. Campbell

Steven T. Campbell

November 4, 2016

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to United States Cellular Corporation and will be retained by United States Cellular Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

XML

Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 shares
Entity Registrant Name	United States Cellular Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000821130
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	USM
Common Shares
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	51,812,225
Series A Common Shares
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	33,005,877

XML

Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating revenues
Service	$ 771	$ 896	$ 2,293	$ 2,549
Equipment sales	239	173	655	461
Total operating revenues	1,010	1,069	2,948	3,010
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	196	199	572	586
Cost of equipment sold	280	287	799	779
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $21 million and $22 million, respectively, for the three months, and $69 million and $66 million, respectively, for the nine months)	370	375	1,089	1,107
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	155	152	462	450
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	7	3	16	12
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		(1)		(114)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(7)	(24)	(16)	(147)
Total operating expenses	1,001	991	2,922	2,673
Operating income	9	78	26	337
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	38	40	110	110
Interest and dividend income	14	9	41	26
Interest expense	(28)	(21)	(84)	(61)
Other, net				(1)
Total investment and other income	24	28	67	74
Income before income taxes	33	106	93	411
Income tax expense	15	41	39	161
Net income	18	65	54	250
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	1	1	7
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 17	$ 64	$ 53	$ 243
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	85	84	85	84
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.89
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	85	85	85	85
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.86

XML

Consolidated Statement Of Operations Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative, charges from affiliates	$ 21	$ 22	$ 69	$ 66

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Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 54	$ 250
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	462	450
Bad debts expense	69	78
Stock-based compensation expense	19	18
Deferred income taxes, net	11	(20)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(110)	(110)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	55	45
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	16	12
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		(114)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(16)	(147)
Noncash interest expense	1	1
Other operating activities	(2)
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	1	(54)
Equipment installment plans receivable	(160)	(96)
Inventory	2	91
Accounts payable	45	117
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	(41)	(51)
Accrued taxes	38	161
Accrued interest	7	11
Other assets and liabilities	(36)	(87)
Net cash provided by operating activities	415	555
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(280)	(407)
Cash paid for aquisitions and licenses	(46)	(286)
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	20	314
Federal Communications Commission deposit	(143)
Other investing activities		2
Net cash used in investing activities	(449)	(377)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issuance of long-term debt		225
Repayment of long-term debt	(8)
Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	4	(1)
Common shares repurchased	(2)	(4)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(2)	(3)
Acquisition of assets in common control transaction		(2)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(6)
Other financing activities	2	(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(7)	207
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(41)	385
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	715	212
End of period	$ 674	$ 597

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Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 674	$ 715
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $49 and $45, respectively		621	608
Roaming		21	20
Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively		46	44
Inventory, net		140	149
Prepaid expenses		80	81
Other current assets		25	55
Total current assets		1,607	1,672
Assets held for sale		16
Licenses		1,866	1,834
Goodwill		370	370
Investments in unconsolidated entities		420	363
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		7,609	7,669
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		5,151	5,020
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,458	2,649
Other assets and deferred charges		367	172
Total assets	[1]	7,104	7,060
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		11	11
Accounts payable
Affiliated		9	10
Trade		300	275
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		204	251
Accrued taxes		29	28
Accrued compensation		64	68
Other current liabilities		78	105
Total current liabilities		695	748
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net		831	821
Other deferred liabilities and credits		311	290
Long-term debt, net		1,621	1,629
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features		1	1
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares Authorized 190 shares (50 Series A Common and 140 Common Shares) Issued 88 shares (33 Series A Common and 55 Common Shares) Outstanding 85 shares (33 Series A Common and 52 Common Shares) and 84 shares (33 Series A Common and 51 Common Shares), respectively Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)		88	88
Additional paid-in capital		1,516	1,497
Treasury Shares, at cost, 3 and 4 Common Shares, respectively		(136)	(157)
Retained earnings		2,167	2,133
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,635	3,561
Noncontrolling interests		10	10
Total equity		3,645	3,571
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 7,104	$ 7,060

[1] The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include assets held by consolidated VIEs of $828 million and $658 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of U.S. Cellular. The consolidated total liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $18 million and $1 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular. See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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Consolidated Balance Sheet Parenthetical - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Customer and agent allowances	$ 49	$ 45
Other allowances	$ 1	$ 1
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	190	190
Issued shares	88	88
Outstanding shares	85	84
Par value	$ 88	$ 88
Variable Interest Entities VIEs
Total VIE assets that can be used to settle only the VIEs' obligations	828	658
Total VIE liabilities for which creditors have no recourse	$ 18	$ 1
Series A Common Shares
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	50	50
Issued shares	33	33
Outstanding shares	33	33
Par value per share	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Par value	$ 33	$ 33
Common Shares
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	140	140
Issued shares	55	55
Outstanding shares	52	51
Par value per share	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Par value	$ 55	$ 55
Treasury shares	3	4

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Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Series A Common and Common shares	Additional paid-in capital	Treasury shares	Retained earnings	Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity	Noncontrolling interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 3,313	$ 88	$ 1,473	$ (169)	$ 1,910	$ 3,302	$ 11
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	243				243	243
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity	2						2
Repurchase of Common shares	(5)			(5)		(5)
Incentive and compensation plans	(2)			14	(16)	(2)
Stock-based compensation awards	17		17			17
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1)						(1)
Acquisition of assets in common control transaction	(1)		1		(2)	(1)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2015	3,566	88	1,491	(160)	2,135	3,554	12
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	3,571	88	1,497	(157)	2,133	3,561	10
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	53				53	53
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity	1						1
Repurchase of Common shares	(2)			(2)		(2)
Incentive and compensation plans	4			23	(19)	4
Stock-based compensation awards	19		19			19
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1)						(1)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 3,645	$ 88	$ 1,516	$ (136)	$ 2,167	$ 3,635	$ 10

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Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

United States Cellular Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1Basis of Presentation

United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”), a Delaware corporation, is an 83%-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”).

The accounting policies of U.S. Cellular conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of U.S. Cellular, subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, general partnerships in which U.S. Cellular has a majority partnership interest and certain entities in which U.S. Cellular has a variable interest that require consolidation under GAAP. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by U.S. Cellular pursuant to the rulesand regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rulesand regulations.  However, U.S. Cellular believes that the disclosures included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Calculated amounts and percentages are based on the underlying actual numbers rather than the numbers rounded to millions as presented.  These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form10-K (“Form10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of U.S. Cellular’s financial position as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and its cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015.  The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”) and has since amended the standard with Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date, Accounting Standards Update 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), Accounting Standards Update 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended, on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2017 is permitted; however, U.S. Cellular does not intend to adopt early.  ASU 2014-09, as amended, impacts U.S. Cellular’s revenue recognition related to the allocation of contract revenues between various services and equipment, and the timing of when those revenues are recognized.  In addition, the new requirements require deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  U.S. Cellular expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  U.S. Cellular is currently evaluating the guidance, developing its implementation plan, and evaluating the effects ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and results of operations upon adoption.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”).  ASU 2014-15 requires U.S. Cellular to assess its ability to continue as a going concern each interim and annual reporting period and provide certain disclosures if there is substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, including management’s plan to alleviate the substantial doubt.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15 for the annual period ending December 31, 2016.  The adoption of ASU 2014-15 will not impact U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations but may impact future disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”), which requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-01,Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities(“ASU 2016-01”). This ASU introduces changes to current accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018. Certain provisions are eligible for early adoption. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”).  ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability for almost all leases.  This ASU does not substantially impact lessor accounting.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, U.S. Cellular expects a substantial increase to assets and liabilities on its balance sheet.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the full effects that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-04, Liabilities – Extinguishments of Liabilities: Recognition of Breakage from Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products (“ASU 2016-04”). ASU 2016-04 requires companies that sell prepaid stored-value products redeemable for goods, services or cash at third-party merchants to recognize breakage (i.e., the value that is ultimately not redeemed by the consumer) in a way that is consistent with how it will be recognized under the new revenue recognition standard.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-04 on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-04 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”).  ASU 2016-09 intends to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  U.S. Cellular will adopt ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017.  The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 requires entities to use a new forward-looking, expected loss model to estimate credit losses.  It also requires additional disclosure relating to the credit quality of trade and other receivables, including information relating to management’s estimate of credit allowances.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2019 is permitted.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”).  ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on eight targeted cash flow classification issues.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its statement of cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-16, Income Taxes:Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”).  ASU 2016-16 impacts the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs between entities in different tax jurisdictions.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-16 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2016-16 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-17, Consolidation:Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control (“ASU 2016-17”).  ASU 2016-17 provides guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in an entity held through related parties that are under common control.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-17 on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-17 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

U.S. Cellular records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities net within a tax liability account if the tax is assessed upon the customer and U.S. Cellular merely acts as an agent in collecting the tax on behalf of the imposing governmental authority.  If the tax is assessed upon U.S. Cellular, then amounts collected from customers as recovery of the tax are recorded in Service revenues and amounts remitted to governmental authorities are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  The amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities totaled $15 million and $49 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $19 million and $60 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Note 2Fair Value Measurements

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, U.S. Cellular did not have any financial or nonfinancial assets or liabilities that were required to be recorded at fair value in its Consolidated Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP.

The provisions of GAAP establish a fair value hierarchy that contains three levels for inputs used in fair value measurements.  Level 1 inputs include quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.  Level 2 inputs include quoted market prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in inactive markets.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable.  A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is not representative of its expected performance or its overall risk profile and, therefore, Level 3 assets are not necessarily higher risk than Level 2 or Level 1 assets.

U.S. Cellular has applied the provisions of fair value accounting for purposes of computing the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes as displayed below.

		Level within the Fair Value Hierarchy	September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
			Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	674	$	674	$	715	$	715
Long-term debt
	Retail	2		917		978		917		929
	Institutional	2		533		555		533		501
	Other	2		205		205		214		214

The fair value of Cash and cash equivalents approximates the book value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.  Long-term debt excludes capital lease obligations and the current portion of Long-term debt.  The fair value of “Retail” Long-term debt was estimated using market prices for the 6.95% Senior Notes, 7.25% Senior Notes due 2063 and 7.25% Senior Notes due 2064.  U.S. Cellular’s “Institutional” debt consists of the 6.7% Senior Notes which are traded over the counter.  U.S. Cellular’s “Other” debt consists of a senior term loan credit facility.  U.S. Cellular estimated the fair value of its Institutional and Other debt through a discounted cash flow analysis using the interest rates or estimated yield to maturity for each borrowing, which ranged from 3.57% to 6.50% and 3.19% to 7.51% at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

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Equipment Installment Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Receivables [Abstract]

Equipment Installment Plans

Note 3Equipment Installment Plans

U.S. Cellular sells devices to customers, through its owned and agent distribution channels, under equipment installment contracts over a specified time period.  For certain equipment installment plans (“EIP”), after a specified period of time or amount of payments, the customer may have the right to upgrade to a new device and have the remaining unpaid equipment installment contract balance waived, subject to certain conditions, including trading in the original device in good working condition and signing a new equipment installment contract.  U.S. Cellular values this trade-in right as a guarantee liability.  The guarantee liability is initially measured at fair value and is determined based on assumptions including the probability and timing of the customer upgrading to a new device and the fair value of the device being traded-in at the time of trade-in.  As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the guarantee liability related to these plans was $44 million and $93 million, respectively, and is reflected in Customer deposits and deferred revenues in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

U.S. Cellular equipment installment plans do not provide for explicit interest charges.  For equipment installment plans with a duration of greater than twelve months, U.S. Cellular imputes interest.  U.S. Cellular records imputed interest as a reduction to the related accounts receivable and it is recognized over the term of the installment agreement.  Equipment installment plan receivables had a weighted average effective imputed interest rate of 10.7% and 9.7% as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The following table summarizes unbilled equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  Such amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Accounts receivable – customers and agents and Other assets and deferred charges, where applicable.

	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
(Dollars in millions)
Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	339	$	279
Short-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		(33)		(21)
Short-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		(22)		(14)
Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	284	$	244
Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	165	$	76
Long-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		(9)		(2)
Long-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		(13)		(6)
Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	143	$	68

U.S. Cellular assesses the collectability of the equipment installment plan receivables based on historical payment experience, account aging and other qualitative factors and provides an allowance for estimated losses.  The credit profiles of U.S. Cellular’s customers on equipment installment plans are similar to those of U.S. Cellular customers with traditional subsidized plans.  Customers with a higher risk credit profile are required to make a down payment for equipment purchased through an installment contract.

U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions occurring in 2015 and 2016 (“2016 EIP adjustments”).  For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the 2016 EIP adjustments had the impact of increasing Equipment sales revenues by $4 million, decreasing bad debts expense, which is a component of Selling, general and administrative expense, by $2 million and increasing Income before income taxes by $6 million.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the 2016 EIP adjustments had the impact of increasing Equipment sales revenues by $2 million, decreasing bad debts expense by $2 million and increasing Income before income taxes by $4 million.Additionally, U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions (“2015 EIP adjustments”) that were attributable to 2014.  The 2015 EIP adjustments had the impact of reducing Equipment sales revenues and Income before income taxes by $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The 2015 EIP adjustments were made in the first six months of 2015.  U.S. Cellular has determined that these adjustments were not material to any of the periods impacted.

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Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings per Share

Note 4Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period adjusted to include the effects of potentially dilutive securities.  Potentially dilutive securities primarily include incremental shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units.

The amounts used in computing earnings per common share and the effects of potentially dilutive securities on the weighted average number of common shares were as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	17	$	64	$	53	$	243
Weighted average number of shares used in basic   earnings per share		85		84		85		84
Effects of dilutive securities		–		1		–		1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted   earnings per share		85		85		85		85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.89
Diluted earnings per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.86

Certain Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock units were not included in average diluted shares outstanding for the calculation of Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders because their effects were antidilutive.  The number of such Common Shares excluded was 3 million shares for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges [Abstract]

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

Note 5Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an agreement with a third party to exchange certain 700 MHz licenses for certain AWS and PCS licenses and $28 million of cash.  This license exchange will be accomplished in two closings.  The first closing occurred in the second quarter of 2016 at which time U.S. Cellular received $13 million of cash and recorded a gain of $9 million.  The second closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2016 and U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain at that time.  As a result of this exchange, the remaining licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016.

In February 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party that provided for the transfer of certain AWS spectrum licenses and $2 million in cash to U.S. Cellular, in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain AWS, PCS and 700 MHz licenses with a carrying value of $7 million to the third party.  This transaction closed in the third quarter of 2016, at which time U.S. Cellular recorded a gain of $7 million.

In March 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into an additional agreement with a third party to transfer FCC licenses in non-operating markets and receive FCC licenses in operating markets.  The agreement provides for the transfer of certain AWS and PCS spectrum licenses to U.S. Cellular in exchange for U.S. Cellular transferring certain PCS spectrum licenses and $1 million of cash to the third party.  This transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Upon closing of this transaction, U.S. Cellular expects to recognize a gain.  As a result of this additional exchange agreement, licenses with a carrying value of $8 million have been classified as “Assets held for sale” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2016.

In 2015 and 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into multiple agreements to purchase spectrum licenses located in U.S. Cellular’s existing operating markets.  The aggregate purchase price for these spectrum licenses is $56 million, of which $46 million closed in the second quarter of 2016.  The remaining agreements are expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2016.

U.S. Cellular is participating in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002, which commenced in August 2016.  In the second quarter of 2016, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million to establish its initial bidding eligibility.

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Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Intangible Assets

Note 6Intangible Assets

Changes in U.S. Cellular’s Licenses for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 are presented below. There were no changes to Goodwill during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016.

Licenses
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2015¹		$	1,834
	Acquisitions		46
	Transferred to Assets held for sale		(16)
	Exchanges - Licenses received		12
	Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(10)
Balance September 30, 2016		$	1,866
1	Amounts include payments totaling $338 million made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. to the FCC for licenses in which it was the provisional winning bidder in Auction 97.  These licenses were granted by the FCC in July 2016.  See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

Note 7Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

Investments in unconsolidated entities consist of amounts invested in wireless entities in which U.S. Cellular holds a noncontrolling interest.  These investments are accounted for using either the equity or cost method.

The following table, which is based in part on information provided by third parties, summarizes the combined results of operations of U.S. Cellular’s equity method investments.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues	$	1,674	$	1,733	$	4,992	$	5,184
Operating expenses		1,249		1,263		3,647		3,827
Operating income		425		470		1,345		1,357
Other income (expense), net		(2)		(10)		(9)		(15)
Net income	$	423	$	460	$	1,336	$	1,342

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Debt

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Note 8Debt

Revolving Credit Facilities

U.S. Cellular has a revolving credit facility available for general corporate purposes.  In June 2016, U.S. Cellular entered into a new $300 million revolving credit agreement with certain lenders and other parties.  As a result of the new agreement, U.S. Cellular’s revolving credit agreement due to expire in December 2017 was terminated.  Amounts under the new revolving credit facility may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed from time-to-time until maturity in June 2021.  As of September 30, 2016, there were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, except for letters of credit.  Interest expense representing commitment fees on the unused portion of the revolving line of credit was $1 million for each of the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015. 

The following table summarizes the terms of the revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2016:

(Dollars in millions)
Maximum borrowing capacity		$	300
Letters of credit outstanding		$	16
Amount borrowed		$	–
Amount available for use		$	284
Illustrative borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread1			2.28%
	Illustrative LIBOR Rate		0.53%
	Contractual spread		1.75%
Commitment fees on amount available for use2			0.30%
Agreement date			June 2016
Maturity date			June 2021
1	Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest either at a LIBOR rate or at an alternative Base Rate as defined in the revolving credit agreement, plus an applicable margin, at U.S. Cellular’s option.  U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders).
2	The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

The new revolving credit agreement includes the following financial covenants:

• Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio may not be less than 3.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter.
• Consolidated Leverage Ratio may not be greater than the ratios indicated as of the end of any fiscal quarter for each period specified below:

Period	Ratios
From the agreement date of June 15, 2016 through June 30, 2019	3.25 to 1.00
From July 1, 2019 and thereafter	3.00 to 1.00

Certain U.S. Cellular wholly-owned subsidiaries have jointly and severally unconditionally guaranteed the payment and performance of the obligations of U.S. Cellular under the revolving credit agreement pursuant to a guaranty dated June 15, 2016.  Other subsidiaries that meet certain criteria will be required to provide a similar guaranty in the future.  U.S. Cellular believes it was in compliance with all of the financial and other covenants and requirements set forth in the revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2016.

At September 30, 2016, U.S. Cellular had recorded $3 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the revolving credit facility which is included in Other assets and deferred charges in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Included in that amount was $2 million related to the new revolving credit facility.

Term Loan

In June 2016, U.S. Cellular also amended and restated its senior term loan credit facility.  Certain modifications were made to the financial covenants and subsidiary guarantees were added in order to align with the new revolving credit agreements.  There were no significant changes to the maturity date or other key terms of the agreement.

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Variable Interest Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entities

Note 9Variable Interest Entities

In February 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-02, Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”).  ASU 2015-02 changes consolidation accounting including revising certain criteria for identifying variable interest entities.  U.S. Cellular adopted the provisions of this standard as of January 1, 2016.  As a result, certain consolidated subsidiaries and unconsolidated entities that were not defined as variable interest entities under previous accounting guidance are defined as variable interest entities under the provisions of ASU 2015-02.  U.S. Cellular’s modified retrospective adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not change the group of entities which U.S. Cellular is required to consolidate in its financial statements.  Accordingly, the adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not impact its financial position or results of operations.

Consolidated VIEs

U.S. Cellular consolidates variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which it has a controlling financial interestas defined by GAAP and is therefore deemed the primary beneficiary.  A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE.  U.S. Cellular reviews these criteria initially at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when events warranting reconsideration occur.These VIEshave risks similar to those described in the “Risk Factors” in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The following VIEs were formed to participate in FCC auctions of wireless spectrum and to fund, establish, and provide wireless service with respect to any FCC licenses won in the auctions:

• Advantage Spectrum L.P. (“Advantage Spectrum”) and Frequency Advantage L.P., the general partner of Advantage Spectrum;
• Aquinas Wireless L.P. (“Aquinas Wireless”); and
• King Street Wireless L.P. (“King Street Wireless”) and King Street Wireless, Inc., the general partner of King Street Wireless.

These particular VIEs are collectively referred to as designated entities.  Historically and as of September 30, 2016, U.S. Cellular consolidated these VIEs. 

The power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these VIEs is shared.  Specifically, the general partner of these VIEs has the exclusive right to manage, operate and control the limited partnerships and make all decisions to carry on the business of the partnerships.  The general partner of each partnership needs the consent of the limited partner, an indirect U.S. Cellular subsidiary, to sell or lease certain licenses, to make certain large expenditures, admit other partners or liquidate the limited partnerships.  Although the power to direct the activities of these VIEs is shared, U.S. Cellular has the most significant level of exposure to the variability associated with the economic performance of the VIEs, indicating that U.S. Cellular is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs.  Therefore, in accordance with GAAP, these VIEs are consolidated.

In March 2015, King Street Wireless made a $60 million distribution to its owners. Of this distribution, $6 million was provided to King Street Wireless, Inc. and $54 million was provided to U.S. Cellular.

FCC Auction 97 ended in January 2015.  U.S. Cellular participated in Auction 97 indirectly through its interest in Advantage Spectrum.  An indirect subsidiary of U.S. Cellular is a limited partner in Advantage Spectrum.  Advantage Spectrum applied as a designated entity, and received bid credits with respect to spectrum purchased in Auction 97.  Advantage Spectrum was the winning bidder for 124 licenses for an aggregate bid of $338 million, after its designated entity discount of 25%. This amount is classified as Licenses in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. Advantage Spectrum’s bid amount, less the initial deposit of $60 million paid in 2014, plus certain other charges totaling $2 million, was paid to the FCC in March 2015. These licenses were granted by the FCC in July 2016. 

U.S. Cellular also consolidates other VIEs that are limited partnerships that provide wireless service.  ASU 2015-02 modified the manner in which limited partnerships and similar legal entities are evaluated under the variable interest model.  A limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless the limited partners hold substantive participating rights or kick-out rights over the general partners.  For certain limited partnerships, U.S. Cellular is the general partner and manages the operations.  In these partnerships, the limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights and, further, such limited partners do not have the authority to remove the general partner.  Therefore, beginning January 1, 2016, these limited partnerships are also recognized as VIEs and are consolidated under the variable interest model.  Prior to the adoption of ASU 2015-02, these limited partnerships were consolidated under the voting interest model.

The following table presents the classification and balances of the consolidated VIEs’ assets and liabilities in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

			September 30,		December 31,
			2016¹		2015¹
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	2	$	1
	Accounts receivable			43		–
	Other current assets			7		–
	Assets held for sale			2		–
	Licenses2			652		649
	Property, plant and equipment, net			108		8
	Other assets and deferred charges			14		–
		Total assets	$	828	$	658
Liabilities
	Current liabilities		$	22	$	–
	Deferred liabilities and credits			12		1
		Total liabilities	$	34	$	1
1		The increase in amounts from December 31, 2015 are primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2015-02 as disclosed above.  ASU 2015-02 was adopted on a modified retrospective basis and, accordingly, prior year amounts have not been revised to reflect the change in guidance.
2		As disclosed above, payments totaling $338 million were made by Advantage Spectrum to the FCC relating to Auction 97.  These licenses were granted and issued as of September 30, 2016.  Although the licenses had not yet been granted as of December 31, 2015, the payments to the FCC were classified as Licenses at such date.

Unconsolidated VIEs

U.S. Cellular manages the operations of and holds a variable interest in certain other limited partnerships, but is not the primary beneficiary of these entities and, therefore, does not consolidate them under the variable interest model outlined in ASU 2015-02.

U.S. Cellular’s total investment in these unconsolidated entities was $6 million and $5 million at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and is included in Investments in unconsolidated entities in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.  The maximum exposure from unconsolidated VIEs is limited to the investment held by U.S. Cellular in those entities. 

Other Related Matters

U.S. Cellular made contributions, loans and/or advances to its VIEs totaling $100 million and $281 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.  U.S. Cellular may agree to make additional capital contributions and/or advances to these or other VIEs and/or to their general partners to provide additional funding for operations or the development of licenses granted in various auctions.  U.S. Cellular may finance such amounts with a combination of cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit agreement and/or other long-term debt.  There is no assurance that U.S. Cellular will be able to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all to provide such financial support.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments attributable to the third quarter of 2013 through the second quarter of 2015 related to an agreement with King Street Wireless.  U.S. Cellular determined that these adjustments were not material to the quarterly periods or the annual results for 2015.  These out-of-period adjustments had the impact of reducing Net income by $3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, and Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by $5 million and $4 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Significant Accounting Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

The accounting policies of U.S. Cellular conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”).  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of U.S. Cellular, subsidiaries in which it has a controlling financial interest, general partnerships in which U.S. Cellular has a majority partnership interest and certain entities in which U.S. Cellular has a variable interest that require consolidation under GAAP. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Basis of Accounting

The unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by U.S. Cellular pursuant to the rulesand regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rulesand regulations.  However, U.S. Cellular believes that the disclosures included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Calculated amounts and percentages are based on the underlying actual numbers rather than the numbers rounded to millions as presented.  These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in U.S. Cellular’s Annual Report on Form10-K (“Form10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items, unless otherwise disclosed) necessary for the fair statement of U.S. Cellular’s financial position as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and its cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015.  The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”) and has since amended the standard with Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date, Accounting Standards Update 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), Accounting Standards Update 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended, on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2017 is permitted; however, U.S. Cellular does not intend to adopt early.  ASU 2014-09, as amended, impacts U.S. Cellular’s revenue recognition related to the allocation of contract revenues between various services and equipment, and the timing of when those revenues are recognized.  In addition, the new requirements require deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  U.S. Cellular expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  U.S. Cellular is currently evaluating the guidance, developing its implementation plan, and evaluating the effects ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and results of operations upon adoption.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (“ASU 2014-15”).  ASU 2014-15 requires U.S. Cellular to assess its ability to continue as a going concern each interim and annual reporting period and provide certain disclosures if there is substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, including management’s plan to alleviate the substantial doubt.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-15 for the annual period ending December 31, 2016.  The adoption of ASU 2014-15 will not impact U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations but may impact future disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”), which requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In January 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-01,Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities(“ASU 2016-01”). This ASU introduces changes to current accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018. Certain provisions are eligible for early adoption. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”).  ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability for almost all leases.  This ASU does not substantially impact lessor accounting.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  Upon adoption of ASU 2016-02, U.S. Cellular expects a substantial increase to assets and liabilities on its balance sheet.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the full effects that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-04, Liabilities – Extinguishments of Liabilities: Recognition of Breakage from Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products (“ASU 2016-04”). ASU 2016-04 requires companies that sell prepaid stored-value products redeemable for goods, services or cash at third-party merchants to recognize breakage (i.e., the value that is ultimately not redeemed by the consumer) in a way that is consistent with how it will be recognized under the new revenue recognition standard.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-04 on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-04 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”).  ASU 2016-09 intends to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  U.S. Cellular will adopt ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017.  The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  ASU 2016-13 requires entities to use a new forward-looking, expected loss model to estimate credit losses.  It also requires additional disclosure relating to the credit quality of trade and other receivables, including information relating to management’s estimate of credit allowances.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020.  Early adoption as of January 1, 2019 is permitted.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-13 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”).  ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on eight targeted cash flow classification issues.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its statement of cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-16, Income Taxes:Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”).  ASU 2016-16 impacts the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs between entities in different tax jurisdictions.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-16 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2016-16 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-17, Consolidation:Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control (“ASU 2016-17”).  ASU 2016-17 provides guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in an entity held through related parties that are under common control.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2016-17 on January 1, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2016-17 will have on its financial position, results of operations and disclosures.

Variable Interest Entities

U.S. Cellular consolidates variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which it has a controlling financial interestas defined by GAAP and is therefore deemed the primary beneficiary.  A controlling financial interest will have both of the following characteristics: (a) the power to direct the VIE activities that most significantly impact economic performance and (b) the obligation to absorb the VIE losses and right to receive benefits that are significant to the VIE.  U.S. Cellular reviews these criteria initially at the time it enters into agreements and subsequently when events warranting reconsideration occur.These VIEshave risks similar to those described in the “Risk Factors” in U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

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Fair Value Measurements (Table)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurements

U.S. Cellular has applied the provisions of fair value accounting for purposes of computing the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes as displayed below.

		Level within the Fair Value Hierarchy	September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
			Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	674	$	674	$	715	$	715
Long-term debt
	Retail	2		917		978		917		929
	Institutional	2		533		555		533		501
	Other	2		205		205		214		214

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Equipment Installment Plans (Table)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Receivables [Abstract]

Equipment installment plans

The following table summarizes unbilled equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.  Such amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Accounts receivable – customers and agents and Other assets and deferred charges, where applicable.

	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
(Dollars in millions)
Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	339	$	279
Short-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		(33)		(21)
Short-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		(22)		(14)
Short-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	284	$	244
Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	165	$	76
Long-term portion of unbilled deferred interest		(9)		(2)
Long-term portion of unbilled allowance for credit losses		(13)		(6)
Long-term portion of unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	143	$	68

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings per share

The amounts used in computing earnings per common share and the effects of potentially dilutive securities on the weighted average number of common shares were as follows:

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	17	$	64	$	53	$	243
Weighted average number of shares used in basic   earnings per share		85		84		85		84
Effects of dilutive securities		–		1		–		1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted   earnings per share		85		85		85		85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.89
Diluted earnings per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	0.20	$	0.75	$	0.63	$	2.86

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Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Licenses

Licenses

Changes in U.S. Cellular’s Licenses for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016 are presented below. There were no changes to Goodwill during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2016.

Licenses
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2015¹		$	1,834
	Acquisitions		46
	Transferred to Assets held for sale		(16)
	Exchanges - Licenses received		12
	Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(10)
Balance September 30, 2016		$	1,866
1	Amounts include payments totaling $338 million made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. to the FCC for licenses in which it was the provisional winning bidder in Auction 97.  These licenses were granted by the FCC in July 2016.  See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]

Equity method investments, summarized results of operations

The following table, which is based in part on information provided by third parties, summarizes the combined results of operations of U.S. Cellular’s equity method investments.

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues	$	1,674	$	1,733	$	4,992	$	5,184
Operating expenses		1,249		1,263		3,647		3,827
Operating income		425		470		1,345		1,357
Other income (expense), net		(2)		(10)		(9)		(15)
Net income	$	423	$	460	$	1,336	$	1,342

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Debt (Table)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt instrument facilities

The following table summarizes the terms of the revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2016:

(Dollars in millions)
Maximum borrowing capacity		$	300
Letters of credit outstanding		$	16
Amount borrowed		$	–
Amount available for use		$	284
Illustrative borrowing rate: One-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread1			2.28%
	Illustrative LIBOR Rate		0.53%
	Contractual spread		1.75%
Commitment fees on amount available for use2			0.30%
Agreement date			June 2016
Maturity date			June 2021
1	Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest either at a LIBOR rate or at an alternative Base Rate as defined in the revolving credit agreement, plus an applicable margin, at U.S. Cellular’s option.  U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders).
2	The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

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Variable Interest Entities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Consolidated VIE assets and liabilities

The following table presents the classification and balances of the consolidated VIEs’ assets and liabilities in U.S. Cellular’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

			September 30,		December 31,
			2016¹		2015¹
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	2	$	1
	Accounts receivable			43		–
	Other current assets			7		–
	Assets held for sale			2		–
	Licenses2			652		649
	Property, plant and equipment, net			108		8
	Other assets and deferred charges			14		–
		Total assets	$	828	$	658
Liabilities
	Current liabilities		$	22	$	–
	Deferred liabilities and credits			12		1
		Total liabilities	$	34	$	1
1		The increase in amounts from December 31, 2015 are primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2015-02 as disclosed above.  ASU 2015-02 was adopted on a modified retrospective basis and, accordingly, prior year amounts have not been revised to reflect the change in guidance.
2		As disclosed above, payments totaling $338 million were made by Advantage Spectrum to the FCC relating to Auction 97.  These licenses were granted and issued as of September 30, 2016.  Although the licenses had not yet been granted as of December 31, 2015, the payments to the FCC were classified as Licenses at such date.

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Basis of Presentation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities	$ 15	$ 19	$ 49	$ 60
TDS
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular	83.00%		83.00%

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Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 674	$ 715	$ 597	$ 212
Institutional and Other | Minimum
Financial Instruments
Fair value assumption, interest rate	3.57%	3.19%
Institutional and Other | Maximum
Financial Instruments
Fair value assumption, interest rate	6.50%	7.51%
Fair Value | Level 1
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 674	$ 715
Fair Value | Level 2 | Retail
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	978	929
Fair Value | Level 2 | Institutional
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	555	501
Fair Value | Level 2 | Other
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	205	214
Book Value
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	674	715
Book Value | Retail
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	917	917
Book Value | Institutional
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	533	533
Book Value | Other
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	$ 205	$ 214

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Equipment Installment Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Equipment installment plans
Guarantee liability	$ 44	$ 44		$ 93
Imputed interest rate		10.70%		9.70%
2016 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment description		U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions occurring in 2015 and 2016 (“2016 EIP adjustments”). For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the 2016 EIP adjustments had the impact of increasing Equipment sales revenues by $4 million, decreasing bad debts expense, which is a component of Selling, general and administrative expense, by $2 million and increasing Income before income taxes by $6 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the 2016 EIP adjustments had the impact of increasing Equipment sales revenues by $2 million, decreasing bad debts expense by $2 million and increasing Income before income taxes by $4 million.
2015 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment description		Additionally, U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to errors related to equipment installment plan transactions (“2015 EIP adjustments”) that were attributable to 2014. The 2015 EIP adjustments had the impact of reducing Equipment sales revenues and Income before income taxes by $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The 2015 EIP adjustments were made in the first six months of 2015. U.S. Cellular has determined that these adjustments were not material to any of the periods impacted.
Equipment sales revenues | 2016 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment	4	$ 2
Equipment sales revenues | 2015 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment			$ (6)
Selling general and administrative expenses | 2016 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment	(2)	(2)
Income before income taxes | 2016 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment	6	4
Income before income taxes | 2015 Equipment installment plans out-of-period adjustment
Equipment installment plans
Out-of-period adjustment			$ (6)
Short-term
Equipment installment plan receivables
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	339	339		$ 279
Unbilled deferred interest	(33)	(33)		(21)
Unbilled allowance for credit losses	(22)	(22)		(14)
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	284	284		244
Long-term
Equipment installment plan receivables
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, gross	165	165		76
Unbilled deferred interest	(9)	(9)		(2)
Unbilled allowance for credit losses	(13)	(13)		(6)
Unbilled equipment installment plan receivables, net	$ 143	$ 143		$ 68

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Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 17	$ 64	$ 53	$ 243
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share	85	84	85	84
Effects of dilutive securities		1		1
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share	85	85	85	85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.89
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.86
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Antidilutive securities	3	3	3	3

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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016
Acquisitions
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses				$ 46	$ 286
Federal Communications Commission deposit		$ 143		143
Exchanges
Assets held for sale	$ 16			16
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges				20	314
Gain on license sales and exchanges	7		$ 24	16	$ 147
License exchange 1
Exchanges
Assets held for sale	8			8
Net cash to be received (paid)							$ 28
License exchange 1, first closing
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges		13
Gain on license sales and exchanges		9
License exchange 2
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	2
Carrying value of licenses disposed of in exchange	7
Gain on license sales and exchanges	7
License exchange 3
Exchanges
Assets held for sale	8			8
Net cash to be received (paid)						$ (1)
License Acquisitions | Aggregate license acquisitions
Acquisitions
License acquisition agreement amount	$ 56			$ 56
Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses		$ 46

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Intangible Assets (Details) - Licenses - USD ($) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	[1]	$ 1,834
Acquisitions		46
Transferred to Assets held for sale		(16)
Exchanges - Licenses received		12
Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(10)
Balance, end of period		1,866
Total winning bid		$ 338

[1] Amounts include payments totaling $338 million made by Advantage Spectrum L.P. to the FCC for licenses in which it was the provisional winning bidder in Auction 97. These licenses were granted by the FCC in July 2016. See Note 9 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Equity method investments, combined income statements
Revenues	$ 1,674	$ 1,733	$ 4,992	$ 5,184
Operating expenses	1,249	1,263	3,647	3,827
Operating income	425	470	1,345	1,357
Other income (expense), net	(2)	(10)	(9)	(15)
Net income	$ 423	$ 460	$ 1,336	$ 1,342

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Debt, revolving credit facilities (Details) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2019
U.S. Cellular revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 300
Letters of credit outstanding		16
Amount available for use		$ 284
Illustrative borrowing rate: One-month London InterBank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus contractual spread	[1]	2.28%
Illustrative LIBOR Rate		0.53%
Contractual spread		1.75%
Commitment fees on amount available for use	[2]	0.30%
Agreement date		Jun. 15, 2016
Maturity date		Jun. 15, 2021
Interest Coverage Ratio		3.00
Leverage Ratio		3.25
Covenant compliance		U.S. Cellular believes it was in compliance with all of the financial and other covenants and requirements set forth in the revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2016.
U.S. Cellular revolving credit facility | Future period
Revolving credit
Leverage Ratio				3.00
Aggregate revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Unused commitment fees		$ 1	$ 1
Other assets and deferred charges | Aggregate revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Debt issuance cost		3
Other assets and deferred charges | New revolving credit facility
Revolving credit
Debt issuance cost		$ 2

[1] Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest either at a LIBOR rate or at an alternative Base Rate as defined in the revolving credit agreement, plus an applicable margin, at U.S. Cellular’s option. U.S. Cellular may select a borrowing period of either one, two, three or six months (or other period of twelve months or less if requested by U.S. Cellular and approved by the lenders).

[2] The revolving credit facility has commitment fees based on the unsecured senior debt ratings assigned to U.S. Cellular by certain ratings agencies.

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Variable Interest Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents				$ 597	$ 674	$ 597	$ 212	$ 715
Accounts receivable					621			608
Other current assets					25			55
Assets held for sale					16
Licenses					1,866			1,834
Property, plant and equipment, net					2,458			2,649
Other assets and deferred charges					367			172
Liabilities
Current liabilities					695			748
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Federal Communications Commission deposit			$ 143		143
Capital contributions, loans or advances					100	281
Investments in unconsolidated entities					$ 420			363
King Street Wireless out-of-period adjustment
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Out-of-period adjustment description					During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, U.S. Cellular recorded out-of-period adjustments attributable to the third quarter of 2013 through the second quarter of 2015 related to an agreement with King Street Wireless. U.S. Cellular determined that these adjustments were not material to the quarterly periods or the annual results for 2015. These out-of-period adjustments had the impact of reducing Net income by $3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, and Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders by $5 million and $4 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Net income | King Street Wireless out-of-period adjustment
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Out-of-period adjustment				3		3
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders | King Street Wireless out-of-period adjustment
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Out-of-period adjustment				$ 5		$ 4
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]				$ 2			1
Accounts receivable	[1]				43
Other current assets	[1]				7
Assets held for sale	[1]				2
Licenses	[1],[2]				652			649
Property, plant and equipment, net	[1]				108			8
Other assets and deferred charges	[1]				14
Total assets	[1]				828			658
Liabilities
Current liabilities	[1]				22
Deferred liabilities and credits	[1]				12			1
Total liabilities	[1]				34			1
Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Investments in unconsolidated entities					$ 6			$ 5
Advantage Spectrum L.P.
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Federal Communications Commission deposit							$ 60
Licenses won		124
Total winning bid		$ 338
Designated entity auction discount		25.00%
Other auction charges		$ 2
King Street Wireless L.P.
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Cash distributions paid		60
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to U.S. Cellular		54
King Street Wireless, L.P. distribution paid to King Street Wireless, Inc.		$ 6

[1] The increase in amounts from December 31, 2015 are primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2015-02 as disclosed above. ASU 2015-02 was adopted on a modified retrospective basis and, accordingly, prior year amounts have not been revised to reflect the change in guidance.

[2] As disclosed above, payments totaling $338 million were made by Advantage Spectrum to the FCC relating to Auction 97. These licenses were granted and issued as of September 30, 2016. Although the licenses had not yet been granted as of December 31, 2015, the payments to the FCC were classified as Licenses at such date.