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, 2017
		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, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer	[  ]			Accelerated filer		[x]
Non-accelerated filer	[  ]	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		[  ]
				Emerging growth company		[  ]
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.						[  ]
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, 2017
Common Shares, $1 par value			52,117,967 Shares
Series A Common Shares, $1 par value			33,005,877 Shares

United States Cellular Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
For the Period Ended September 30, 2017
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	7
	Liquidity and Capital Resources	11
	Consolidated Cash Flow Analysis	14
	Consolidated Balance Sheet Analysis	15
	Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures	16
	Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates	20
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements	20
	Regulatory Matters	20
	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	39
	Legal Proceedings	39
	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	39
	Other Information	40
	Exhibits	41
	Form 10-Q Cross Reference Index	42
	Signatures	43

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

Executive Overview

The following discussion and analysiscompares United States Cellular Corporation’s (U.S. Cellular) financial results for the three and ninemonths ended September 30, 2017,to the three and ninemonths ended September 30, 2016.  It should be read in conjunction with U.S. Cellular’s 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, 2016.  Certain numbers included herein are rounded to millions for ease of presentation; however, calculated amounts and percentages are determined using the unrounded numbers. 

This report contains statements that are not based on historical facts, including the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects” and similar expressions.  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” and each such measure is identified in 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 5.1 million connections including 4.5 million postpaid, 0.5 million prepaid and 0.1 million reseller and other connections
• Operates in 22 states
• Employs approximately 6,000associates
• Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois
• 6,436 cell sites including 4,051 owned 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 2017, U.S. Cellular continues to execute on its strategies to protect its current customer base, grow revenues by attracting new customers through economical offerings and identifying new revenue opportunities, and drive improvements in its overall cost structure.  Strategic efforts include:

• U.S. Cellular continues to devote efforts to enhance its network capabilities.  During the first half of 2017, U.S. Cellular commercially deployed VoLTE technology for the first time in one key market and will continue to build out VoLTE services over the next few years.  The next commercial launch is expected to occur in several additional operating markets in early 2018.  VoLTE technology allows customers to utilize a 4G LTE network for both voice and data services, andoffers enhanced services such ashigh definition voice, video calling and simultaneous voice and data sessions. In addition, the deployment of VoLTE technology expands U.S. Cellular’s ability to offer roaming services to other carriers. 
• U.S. Cellular continues to enhance its spectrum position and monetize non-strategic assets by participating in auctions and entering into agreements with third parties.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the FCC announced by way of public notice that U.S. Cellular was the winning bidder for 188 licenses for an aggregate purchase price of $329 million.  In addition, U.S. Cellular closed on certainlicense exchange agreementsand received $15 million of cash and recognized gains of $19 million.  See Note 5 — Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchangesin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to certain of these transactions.
• U.S. Cellular is focused on expanding its solutions available to business and government customers, including a growing suite of connected machine-to-machine solutions and software applications across various categories.  U.S. Cellular will continue to enhance its advanced wireless services and connected solutions for consumer, business and government customers.

Significant Financial Matter

Net loss attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders was $299 million and $261 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.Such net losses include a non-cash charge related to goodwill impairment of $370 million ($309 million, net of tax), which was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2017.  See Note 6— Intangible Assetsfor a detailed discussion regarding the goodwill impairment.  Refer to Supplemental Information to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of the goodwill impairment, net of tax.

3

Terms Used by U.S. Cellular

The following is a list of definitions of certain industry terms that are used throughout this document:

• 4G LTE – fourth generation Long-Term Evolution which is a wireless broadband technology.
• Account – represents an individual or business financially responsible for one or multiple associated connections.  An account may include a variety oftypes of connections such as handsets and connected devices.
• Auctions 1000, 1001, and 1002 – Auction 1000 is an FCC auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses that started in 2016 and continued into 2017 involving: (1) a “reverse auction” inwhich 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 licensesfor 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 churnrate for each respective period.
• Connections – individual lines of service associated with each device activated by a customer. This includes smartphones, feature phones, tablets,modems, hotspots, and machine-to-machine devices.
• Connected Devices – non-handset devices that connect directly to the U.S. Cellular network.  Connected devices include products such as tablets, modems, and hotspots.
• EBITDA – refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion and is used in the non-GAAP metric Adjusted EBITDA throughout this document. 
• FCC – Federal Communications Commission.
• Gross Additions – represents the total number of new connections added during the period, without regard to connections that were terminated duringthat period.
• Machine-to-Machine or M2M – technology that involves the transmission of data between networked devices, as well as the performance of actions bydevices 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 agreements 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.
• OIBDA – refers to operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion and is used in the non-GAAP metric Adjusted OIBDA throughout this document. 
• Postpaid Average Billings per Account (Postpaid ABPA) – non-GAAP metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plusequipment installment plan billings by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.
• Postpaid Average Billings per User (Postpaid ABPU) – non-GAAP metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues plus equipmentinstallment 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 averagenumber 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 ofpostpaid connections and by the number of months in the period.
• Retail Connections – the sum of postpaid connections and prepaid connections.
• Universal Service Fund (USF) – a system of telecommunications collected fees and support payments managed by the FCC intended to promoteuniversal 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 communicationsand related services over 4G LTE networks.

4

Operational Overview

							Q3	Q3	YTD	YTD
							2017	2016	2017	2016
				Postpaid Activity and Churn
					Gross Additions:		191,000	174,000	511,000	586,000
						Handsets	139,000	115,000	357,000	363,000
						Connected Devices	52,000	59,000	154,000	223,000
As of September 30,					Net Additions (Losses):		35,000	(6,000)	31,000	75,000
		2017	2016			Handsets	29,000	(27,000)	20,000	(45,000)
Retail Connections – End of Period						Connected Devices	6,000	21,000	11,000	120,000
	Postpaid	4,513,000	4,484,000		Churn:		1.16%	1.34%	1.19%	1.27%
	Prepaid	515,000	480,000			Handsets	0.96%	1.22%	0.98%	1.17%
	Total	5,028,000	4,964,000			Connected Devices	2.33%	2.04%	2.41%	1.97%

The increase in postpaid net additions for the three months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same period last year, was driven mainly by higher handsets gross additions as well as lower handsets churn. These impacts were slightly offset by a decline in tablet gross additions and higher tablet churn which are included in the connected devices line above.

The decrease in postpaid net additions for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same period last year, was driven mainly by lower tablet gross additions and an increase in tablet churn, partially offset by an improvement in handsets net additions largely reflecting a decline in handsets churn.

5

Postpaid Revenue

		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
		2017		2016		2017		2016
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)		$	43.41	$	47.08	$	44.46	$	47.54
Average Billings Per User (ABPU)1		$	54.71	$	56.79	$	55.21	$	56.34
Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA)		$	116.36	$	125.31	$	119.26	$	125.21
Average Billings Per Account (ABPA)1		$	146.65	$	151.16	$	148.12	$	148.37
1	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 these measures.

Postpaid ARPU and Postpaid ARPA decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, due primarily to industry-wide price competition resulting in overall price reductions on plan offerings.

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 certain equipment installment plans provide for reduced monthly service 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.

Equipment installment plan billings increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same periods last year, mainly due to increased penetration of equipment installment plans.Postpaid ABPU and ABPAdecreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same periods last year, 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 penetration of equipment installment plans to continue to increase over time due to the fact that, effective in September 2016, all equipment sales to retail customers are made under installment plans.

6

Financial Overview

		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
						2017 vs.					2017 vs.
		2017		2016		2016	2017		2016			2016
(Dollars in millions)
Retail service		$	636	$	681	(7)%	$	1,940	$	2,044		(5)%
Inbound roaming			37		45	(17)%		94		118		(20)%
Other1			64		58	12%		189		168		13%
	Service revenues1		737		784	(6)%		2,223		2,330		(5)%
Equipment sales			226		239	(5)%		639		655		(3)%
	Total operating revenues1		963		1,023	(6)%		2,862		2,985		(4)%
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortizationand accretion reported below)			185		196	(6)%		549		572		(4)%
Cost of equipment sold			261		280	(7)%		749		799		(6)%
Selling, general and administrative			350		370	(5)%		1,041		1,089		(4)%
Depreciation, amortizationand accretion			153		155	(2)%		460		462		–
Loss on impairment of goodwill			370		–	N/M		370		–		N/M
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			5		7	(26)%		14		16		(17)%
(Gain) loss on sale of businessand other exit costs, net			(1)		–	N/M		(1)		–		>(100)%
(Gain) loss on license salesand exchanges, net			–		(7)	100%		(19)		(16)		(16)%
	Total operating expenses		1,323		1,001	32%		3,163		2,922		8%
Operating income (loss)¹		$	(360)	$	22	>(100)%	$	(301)	$	63		>(100)%
Net income (loss)		$	(298)	$	18	>(100)%	$	(259)	$	54		>(100)%
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1,2		$	167	$	177	(6)%	$	523	$	525		–
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)2		$	204	$	216	(6)%	$	631	$	639		(1)%
Capital expenditures		$	112	$	103	8%	$	257	$	275		(7)%
N/M - Percentage change not meaningful
1	Equipment installment plan interest income is reflected as a component of Service revenues consistent with an accounting policy change effective January 1, 2017.  All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change.  See Note 1 — Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.
2	Refer to Supplemental Information Relating to Non-GAAP Financial Measures within this MD&A for a reconciliation of this measure.

7

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 Service –Primarily amounts received from the Federal USF, imputed interest recognized on equipment installment plan contracts 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

On January 1, 2017, U.S. Cellular elected to change the classification of interest income on equipment installment plan contracts from Interest and dividend income to Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change.  See Note 1 — Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details. 

Service revenues decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, as a result of (i) a decrease in retail service revenues primarily driven by industry-wide price competition resulting in overall price reductions on plan offerings; and (ii) a decrease in inbound roaming revenues primarily driven by lower roaming rates.  Such reductions were partially offset by an increase in imputed interest income due to an increase in the total number of active equipment installment plans.

Federal USF revenue remained flat at $23 million and $69 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, when compared to the same periods last year.  See the Regulatory Matters section in this MD&A for a description of the FCC Mobility Fund II Order (MF2 Order) and its expected impacts on U.S. Cellular’s current Federal USF support.

Equipment sales revenues decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same period last year, due a reduction in guarantee liability amortization for equipment installment contracts as a result of changes in plan offerings and an overall reduction in the number of devices sold.  See Note 3 – Equipment Installment Plans in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details regarding the amortization of the guarantee liability.  These impacts were partially offset by a mix shift to higher end smartphone devices as well as an increase in accessories revenues.

Equipment sales revenues decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same period last year, as a result of an overall reduction in the number of devices sold and, as a result of changes in plan offerings, a decrease in guarantee liability amortization for equipment installment contracts and lower device activation fees.  These impacts were partially offset by an increase in the proportion of new device sales made under equipment installment plans, a mix shift from feature phones and connected devices to smartphones and, to a lesser extent, an increase in accessories revenues.

8

System operations expenses

System operations expenses decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same periods last year, as a result of (i) a decrease in roaming expenses driven primarily by lower roaming rates, partially offset by increased data roaming usage; and (ii) a decrease in customer usage expenses primarily driven by decreased circuit costs.

Cost of equipment sold

The decrease in Cost of equipment sold for the threeand nine months ended September 30, 2017, when compared to the same periods last year, was mainly due to a reduction in the number of devices sold as well as a decrease in the average cost of smartphones, partially offset by a mix shift from feature phones and connected devices to higher cost smartphones.  Loss on equipment, defined as Equipment sales revenues less Cost of equipment sold, was $35 million and $41 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $110 million and $144 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, decreased by $8 million and $24 million, respectively, mainly due to lower advertising expenses, including a decrease in sponsorship expenses related to the termination of a naming rights agreement during the third quarter of 2016; increases in commissions expenses were partially offsetting.  General and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, decreased $11 million and $25 million, respectively, mainly due to lower bad debts and phone program expenses together with reductions in numerous other general and administrative categories. 

Loss on impairment of goodwill

During the third quarter of 2017, U.S. Cellular recorded a $370 million loss on impairment related to goodwill.  See Note 6 — Intangible Assets in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net

Net gains in 2017 and 2016 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.

Components of Other Income (Expense)
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
		September 30,					September 30,
						2017 vs.					2017 vs.
		2017		2016		2016	2017		2016		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Operating income (loss)¹		$	(360)	$	22	>(100)%	$	(301)	$	63	>(100)%
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			35		38	(7)%		101		110	(8)%
Interest and dividend income1			2		1	68%		6		4	45%
Interest expense			(28)		(28)	(2)%		(85)		(84)	(1)%
Other, net			–		–	29%		1		–	(9)%
Total investment and other income1			9		11	(21)%		23		30	(25)%
Income (loss) before income taxes			(351)		33	>(100)%		(278)		93	>(100)%
Income tax expense (benefit)			(53)		15	>(100)%		(19)		39	>(100)%
Net income (loss)			(298)		18	>(100)%		(259)		54	>(100)%
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to    noncontrolling interests, net of tax			1		1	(9)%		2		1	>100%
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders		$	(299)	$	17	>(100)%	$	(261)	$	53	>(100)%
1	Equipment installment plan interest income is reflected as a component of Service revenues consistent with an accounting policy change effective January 1, 2017.  All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change.  See Note 1 — Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

9

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 $17million to Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $50 million and $57 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  See Note 7 — Investments in Unconsolidated Entities in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Income tax expense

U.S. Cellular’s effective tax rate on Income (loss) before income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, was not meaningful due primarily to the recognition of a loss on impairment of goodwill and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, was 46.0% and 41.4%, respectively. Due to difficulty in reliably projecting an annual tax rate, U.S. Cellular calculated income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, based on an estimated year-to-date tax rate.

A reconciliation of U.S. Cellular’s income tax expense (benefit) computed at the statutory rate to the reported income tax expense (benefit) and effective tax rate is as follows:

			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,
			2017			2016
			Amount	Rate		Amount	Rate
(Dollars in millions)
Pretax income (loss)		$	(278)	N/A	$	93	N/A
Statutory federal income tax expense (benefit) and rate			(97)	35.0 %		33	35.0%
Goodwill impairment1			76	(27.3)%		–	0.0%
Other differences, net			2	(0.7)%		6	6.4%
Total tax expense (benefit) and rate		$	(19)	7.0 %	$	39	41.4%
1	Goodwill impairment reflects an adjustment to increase federal and state income tax expense by $76 million related to a portion of the goodwill impairment U.S. Cellular recorded which is nondeductible for tax purposes.  See Note 6 - Intangible Assets for a detailed discussion regarding the goodwill impairment.

10

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, certain 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.  See Market Risk for additional information regarding maturities of long-term debt.

Although U.S. Cellular currently has a significant cash balance, in certain recent periods, U.S. Cellular has incurred negative free cash flow (non-GAAP metric 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 2017.  However, 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. 

U.S. Cellular may require substantial additional capital for, among other uses, funding day-to-day operating needs including 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 is exploring a potential securitized borrowing using its equipment installment plan receivables, which may occur in 2018.  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, the LA Partnership discontinues or reduces distributions compared to historical levels, or Federal USF and/or other regulatory support payments decline.  In addition, although sales of assets or businesses by U.S. Cellular have been an important source of liquidity in prior periods, U.S. Cellular does not expect a similar level of such sales in the future.

U.S. Cellular’s credit rating has been sub-investment grade since 2014.  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, 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.

AtDecember 31, 2016, U.S. Cellular’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $586 million compared to $498 million at September 30, 2017. The majority of U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents was held in bank deposit accounts and in money market funds that purchase only debt issued by the U.S. Treasury or U.S. government agencies across a range of eligible money market investments that may include, but are not limited to, government agency repurchase agreements, government agency debt, U.S. Treasury repurchase agreements, U.S. Treasury debt, and other securities collateralized by U.S. government 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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Short-term investments

At September 30, 2017, U.S. Cellular held $50 million of Short-term investments which consisted of U.S. Treasury Bills with original maturities of six months.  For these investments, U.S. Cellular’s objective is to earn a higher rate of return on funds that are not anticipated to be required to meet liquidity needs in the immediate future while maintaining low investment risk.  See Note 2 – Fair Value Measurements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details on short-term investments.

Financing

U.S. Cellular has a revolving credit facility available for general corporate purposes, including spectrum purchases and capital expenditures.  This credit facility matures in June 2021.

U.S. Cellular’s unused capacity under its revolving credit facility was $298 million as of September 30, 2017.  U.S. Cellular believes it was in compliance with all of the financial covenants and requirements set forth in its revolving credit facility as of that date.

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

Long-term debt payments due for the remainder of 2017 and the next four years represent less than 4% of U.S. Cellular’s total long-term debt obligation as of September 30, 2017.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures (i.e., additions to property, plant and equipment and system development expenditures), which include the effects of accruals and capitalized interest, in 2017 and 2016were as follows:

Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2017 were $275 million and $257 million, respectively. Capital expenditures for the full year 2017are expected to be approximately $500 million.  These expenditures are expected to be for the following general purposes:  Expand and enhance network coverage, including providing additional capacity to accommodate increased network usage, principally data usage, by current customers; Deploymentof VoLTE technology in certain markets; Expand and enhance the retail store network; Consolidate and upgrade its office facilities; and Develop and enhance billing and other systems.

U.S. Cellular plans to finance its capital expenditures program for 2017 using primarily Cash flows from operating activities and existing cash balances.

Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

U.S.Cellular may be engaged from time to time in negotiations (subject to all applicable regulations) 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.

In July 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.In April 2017, the FCC announced by way of public notice that U.S. Cellular was the winning bidder for 188 licenses for an aggregate purchase price of $329 million.Prior to commencement of the forward auction, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million in June 2016. U.S. Cellular paid the remaining $186 million to the FCC and was granted the licenses during the second quarter of 2017.

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 was 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 occurred in the first quarter of 2017, at which time U.S. Cellular received $15 million of cash and recorded a gain of $17 million.

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Variable Interest Entities

U.S.Cellular consolidates certain “variable interest entities” as defined under GAAP. See Note8 — 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 additional capital contributions and/or advances to these variable interest entities in future periods in order to fund their operations.

During the first quarter of 2017, U.S. Cellular formed USCC EIP LLC, a special purpose entity (SPE), to facilitate a potential securitized borrowing using its equipment installment plan receivables in the future.  During the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017, net equipment installment plan receivables totaling $1,093 million were transferred to the newly formed SPE from affiliated entities.  On a consolidated basis, the transfer of receivables into this SPE did not have a material impact to the financial condition of U.S. Cellular. 

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 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2017		2016
Number of shares		–		46,861
Average cost per share	$	–	$	34.77
Dollar amount (in millions)	$	–	$	2

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, 2016 and September 30, 2017,to 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, 2016.

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, 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 spectrum 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, 2017 and 2016.

2017 Commentary

U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents decreased $88 million in 2017. Net cash provided by operating activities was $394 million and was offset by Cash flows used for investing activities of $472 million and Cash flows used for financing activities of $10 million.

Net cash provided by operating activities consisted of net income adjusted for non-cash items of $477 million, distributions received from unconsolidated entities of $85 million, including $30 million in distributions from the LA Partnership, and changes in working capital items which decreased net cash by $168 million. The non-cash items included a $370 million loss on impairment of goodwill.  The decrease resulting from changes in working capital items was due in part to a $164 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.

Cash flows used for investing activities were $472 million. Cash paid in 2017 for additions to property, plant and equipment totaled $252 million. Cash paid for acquisitions and licenses was $189 million which included the remaining $186 million due to the FCC for licenses U.S. Cellular won in Auction 1002. Cash paid for investments was $50 million which included the purchase of short-term Treasury bills.  This was partially offset by Cash received from divestitures and exchanges of $19 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 $10 million, primarily for scheduled repayments of debt.

2016 Commentary

U.S. Cellular’s Cash and cash equivalents decreased $41million in 2016.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $415 million in 2016 due 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 $160million increase in equipment installment plan receivables. 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 in 2016 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.

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

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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 2017 are as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $88million due primarily to the purchase of $50 million in short-term investments.  See the Consolidated Cash Flow analysis above for a discussion of cash and cash equivalents.

Short-term investments

Short-term investments increased $50million due to the purchase of short-term investments, which consisted of U.S. Treasury Bills with original maturities of six months.  See Note 2 – Fair Value Measurements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details on short-term investments.

Inventory, net

Inventory, net decreased $36million due primarily to overall improvements in inventory planning and procurement practices.

Licenses

Licenses increased $339million due primarily to an aggregate winning bid of $329 million in FCC Auction 1002.  These licenses were granted by the FCC in the second quarter of 2017.  See Note 5—Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information about this transaction.

Goodwill

Goodwill decreased $370million due to the impairment loss recorded in the third quarter of 2017.  See Note 6—Intangible Assets in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Accounts payable — Trade

Accounts payable — Trade decreased $50 million due primarily to reduction of expenses in 2017 as well as payment timing differences.

Accruedtaxes

Accrued taxes increased $26 million due primarily to the excess of current income tax expense over federal estimated payments made during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

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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
• Adjusted OIBDA
• Free cash flow
• Postpaid ABPU

• Postpaid ABPA
• Goodwill impairment, net of tax

Following are explanations of each of these measures.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation below. Adjusted OIBDA is defined as net income (loss) adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation below. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income (loss) 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 Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability and, therefore, reconciliations to Net income (loss) are deemed appropriate.  Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA 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 Adjusted OIBDA 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 Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income (loss).

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			Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
			September 30,				September 30,
			2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Net income (loss) (GAAP)			$	(298)	$	18	$	(259)	$	54
Add back:
	Income tax expense (benefit)			(53)		15		(19)		39
	Interest expense			28		28		85		84
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion			153		155		460		462
EBITDA (Non-GAAP)				(170)		216		267		639
Add back or deduct:
	Loss on impairment of goodwill			370		–		370		–
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			(1)		–		(1)		–
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			–		(7)		(19)		(16)
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			5		7		14		16
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)				204		216		631		639
Deduct:
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			35		38		101		110
	Interest and dividend income1			2		1		6		4
	Other, net			–		–		1		–
Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1				167		177		523		525
Deduct:
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion			153		155		460		462
	Loss on impairment of goodwill			370		–		370		–
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			(1)		–		(1)		–
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			–		(7)		(19)		(16)
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			5		7		14		16
Operating income (loss) (GAAP)¹			$	(360)	$	22	$	(301)	$	63
1		Equipment installment plan interest income is reflected as a component of Service revenues consistent with the accounting policy change effective January 1, 2017.  All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to this accounting change.  See Note 1 — Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

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Free Cash Flow

The following table presentsFree 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.Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measurewhich U.S. Cellular believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment. 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP)		$	394	$	415
Less: Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment			252		280
	Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	142	$	135

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 herein, 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,
		2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars and connection counts in millions)
Calculation of Postpaid ARPU
Postpaid service revenues		$	586	$	635	$	1,791	$	1,910
Average number of postpaid connections			4.50		4.49		4.48		4.46
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ARPU (GAAP metric)	$	43.41	$	47.08	$	44.46	$	47.54
Calculation of Postpaid ABPU
Postpaid service revenues		$	586	$	635	$	1,791	$	1,910
Equipment installment plan billings			152		131		433		353
	Total billings to postpaid connections	$	738	$	766	$	2,224	$	2,263
Average number of postpaid connections			4.50		4.49		4.48		4.46
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ABPU (Non-GAAP metric)	$	54.71	$	56.79	$	55.21	$	56.34
Calculation of Postpaid ARPA
Postpaid service revenues		$	586	$	635	$	1,791	$	1,910
Average number of postpaid accounts			1.68		1.69		1.67		1.69
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ARPA (GAAP metric)	$	116.36	$	125.31	$	119.26	$	125.21
Calculation of Postpaid ABPA
Postpaid service revenues		$	586	$	635	$	1,791	$	1,910
Equipment installment plan billings			152		131		433		353
	Total billings to postpaid accounts	$	738	$	766	$	2,224	$	2,263
Average number of postpaid accounts			1.68		1.69		1.67		1.69
Number of months in period			3		3		9		9
	Postpaid ABPA (Non-GAAP metric)	$	146.65	$	151.16	$	148.12	$	148.37

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Goodwill impairment, net of tax

The following non-GAAP financial measure isolates the total effect on net income of the current period loss on impairment of goodwill including tax impacts.  U.S. Cellular believes this measure may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information to assist in comparing the current period financial results with periods that were not impacted by such a charge.

		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2017		2016	2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Goodwill impairment:
	Loss on impairment of goodwill	$	370	$	–	$	370	$	–
	Tax benefit on impairment of goodwill1		(61)		–		(61)		–
	Goodwill impairment, net of tax (Non-GAAP)	$	309	$	–	$	309	$	–
1	Tax benefit represents the amount associated with the tax-deductible portion of the loss on goodwill impairment.

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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, 2016. 

Effective January 1, 2017, U.S. Cellular elected to change the classification of interest income on equipment installment plan contracts from Interest and dividend income to Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  All prior period numbers have been recast to conform to the current year presentation.  See Note 1—Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding this accounting change.  There were no other material changes to U.S. Cellular’s application of critical accounting policies and estimates during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017.

Goodwill Interim Impairment Assessment

U.S. Cellular adopted ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,in the third quarter of 2017 and applied the guidance to interim goodwill impairment tests.  During the third quarter of 2017, U.S. Cellular recorded a loss on impairment of goodwill of $370 million.  Further, U.S. Cellular’s asset group was assessed for recoverability, which resulted in no impairment.  See Note 6 —Intangible Assets in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

Management continues to monitor industry conditions and other economic factors such as the success of new and existing products and services, competition, and/or operational difficulties for negative trends.  Such trends if identified, could adversely influence future forecasted cash flows, market prices on key assets such as spectrum licenses or recoverability of long-lived assets, which could result in possible impairments of such assets in future periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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

Regulatory Matters

FCC Auction 1002

U.S. Cellular was a bidder in the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses, referred to as Auction 1002, which concluded in March 2017.  In April 2017, the FCC announced by way of public notice that U.S. Cellular was the winning bidder for 188 licenses for an aggregate purchase price of $329 million.  Prior to commencement of the forward auction, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million in June 2016.  U.S. Cellular paid the remaining $186 million to the FCC and was granted the licenses during the second quarter of 2017. 

FCC Mobility Fund Phase II Order

In October 2011, the FCC adopted its USF/Intercarrier Compensation Transformation Order (USF Order).  Pursuant to this order, U.S. Cellular’s then current Federal USF support was to be phased down at the rate of 20% per year beginning July 1, 2012. The USF Order contemplated the establishment of a new mobile USF program and provided for a pause in the phase down if that program was not timely implemented by July 2014.  The Phase II Connect America Mobility Fund (MF2) was not operational as of July 2014 and, therefore, as provided by the USF Order, the phase down was suspended at 60% of the baseline amount until such time as the FCC had taken steps to establish the MF2.  In February 2017, the FCC adopted the MF2 Order addressing the framework for MF2 and the resumption of the phase down. The MF2 Order establishes a support fund of $453 million annually for ten years to be distributed through a market-based, multi-round reverse auction.  The MF2 Order further states that the phase down of legacy support for areas that do not receive support under MF2 will commence on the first day of the month following the completion of the auction and will conclude two years later.

In August 2017, the FCC adopted the MF2 Challenge Process Order, which laid out procedures for establishing areas that would be eligible for support under the MF2 program.  This will include a collection process to be followed by a challenge window, a challenge response window, and finally adjudication of any coverage disputes.  In September 2017, the FCC issued a public notice initiating the collection of 4G LTE coverage data.  Responses submitting the collected data are due on January 4, 2018. 

In October 2017, the FCC issued a public notice proposing and seeking comment on detailed challenge procedures and a schedule for the challenge process.  Under this proposal, the challenge window would begin no earlier than four weeks after the January 4 collection date and would last 150 days.  No earlier than five business days after the close of the challenge window, the FCC would open a thirty-day challenge response window.  Following the challenge response window, the FCC would adjudicate any disputes.  This entire process must be completed before an auction can be commenced.

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U.S. Cellular cannot predict at this time when the MF2 auction will occur, when the phase down period for its existing legacy support from the Federal USF will commence, or whether the MF2 auction will provide opportunities to U.S. Cellular to offset any loss in existing support.  However, the FCC has indicated that it currently plans to hold the MF2 auction in 2018.  U.S. Cellular currently expects that its legacy support will continue at the current level for the remainder of 2017.

FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking – “Restoring Internet Freedom”

In May 2017, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to revise decisions made in the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet and Title II Order (Restoring Internet Freedom). If adopted as proposed, the item would reverse the FCC’s decision to reclassify Broadband Internet Access Services as telecommunications services subject to regulation under Title II of the Telecommunications Act. The NPRM also sought comment on blocking, throttling, paid prioritization, and transparency rules adopted as part of the FCC’s previous rulemaking.

The NPRM is subject to public comment and further action by the FCC, and any final rules adopted may differ from those proposed in the NPRM. Also, there may be legal proceedings challenging any rule changes that are ultimately adopted.U.S. Cellular cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings or the impact on its business.

Other Regulatory Matters

In March 2017, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives approved a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations approved by the FCC in October 2016 governing consumer privacy by broadband Internet service providers.  The President approved the resolution in April 2017.  The repeal removed the pending FCC rules, which would have gone into effect in 2017.  The rules would have prohibited broadband internet service providers from sharing certain sensitive customer information unless customers opted in and expressly agreed to share such information.  U.S. Cellular will continue to protect customer information in accordance with Section 222 of the Telecommunications Act and its publicly available Privacy Statement until such time as regulators adopt other privacy requirements.

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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, 2016.  Each of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.  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, 2016, 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, financial condition or results of operations.

• 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 factorscould 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.
• Failure by U.S.Cellular to timely or fully comply with any existing applicable legislative and/or regulatory requirements or changes thereto 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 operatingresults 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 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.

22

• 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.
• 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, which could have an adverse effect on U.S. Cellular’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
• 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.

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• 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.
• 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, 2016, 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, 2016, 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, 2016.

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, 2016, 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, 2016. 

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, 2017.

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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,
			2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Operating revenues
	Service		$	737	$	784	$	2,223	$	2,330
	Equipment sales			226		239		639		655
		Total operating revenues		963		1,023		2,862		2,985
Operating expenses
	System operations (excluding Depreciation,   amortization and accretion reported below)			185		196		549		572
	Cost of equipment sold			261		280		749		799
	Selling, general and administrative (including charges   from affiliates of $20 million and $21 million, respectively,   for the three months, and $62 million and $69 million,   respectively, for the nine months)			350		370		1,041		1,089
	Depreciation, amortization and accretion			153		155		460		462
	Loss on impairment of goodwill			370		–		370		–
	(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			5		7		14		16
	(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			(1)		–		(1)		–
	(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			–		(7)		(19)		(16)
		Total operating expenses		1,323		1,001		3,163		2,922
Operating income (loss)				(360)		22		(301)		63
Investment and other income (expense)
	Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			35		38		101		110
	Interest and dividend income			2		1		6		4
	Interest expense			(28)		(28)		(85)		(84)
	Other, net			–		–		1		–
		Total investment and other income		9		11		23		30
Income (loss) before income taxes				(351)		33		(278)		93
	Income tax expense (benefit)			(53)		15		(19)		39
Net income (loss)				(298)		18		(259)		54
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling   interests, net of tax				1		1		2		1
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders			$	(299)	$	17	$	(261)	$	53
Basic weighted average shares outstanding				85		85		85		85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders			$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding				85		85		85		85
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders			$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

25

United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

					Nine Months Ended
					September 30,
					2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
	Net income (loss)				$	(259)	$	54
	Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows
		from operating activities
			Depreciation, amortization and accretion			460		462
			Bad debts expense			64		69
			Stock-based compensation expense			21		19
			Deferred income taxes, net			(73)		11
			Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities			(101)		(110)
			Distributions from unconsolidated entities			85		55
			Loss on impairment of goodwill			370		–
			(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net			14		16
			(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net			(1)		–
			(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net			(19)		(16)
			Noncash interest			1		1
			Other operating activities			–		(2)
	Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
			Accounts receivable			(16)		1
			Equipment installment plans receivable			(164)		(160)
			Inventory			36		2
			Accounts payable			(58)		45
			Customer deposits and deferred revenues			(13)		(41)
			Accrued taxes			31		38
			Accrued interest			9		7
			Other assets and liabilities			7		(36)
				Net cash provided by operating activities		394		415
Cash flows from investing activities
	Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment					(252)		(280)
	Cash paid for licenses					(189)		(46)
	Cash paid for investments					(50)		–
	Cash received from divestitures and exchanges					19		20
	Federal Communications Commission deposit					–		(143)
				Net cash used in investing activities		(472)		(449)
Cash flows from financing activities
	Repayment of long-term debt					(9)		(8)
	Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments					1		4
	Common shares repurchased					–		(2)
	Payment of debt issuance costs					–		(2)
	Distributions to noncontrolling interests					(2)		(1)
	Other financing activities					–		2
				Net cash used in financing activities		(10)		(7)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents						(88)		(41)
Cash and cash equivalents
	Beginning of period					586		715
	End of period				$	498	$	674
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

26

United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheet — Assets

(Unaudited)

				September 30,		December 31,
				2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	498	$	586
	Short-term investments				50		–
	Accounts receivable
		Customers and agents, less allowances of $52 and $51, respectively			691		658
		Roaming			25		16
		Affiliated			–		2
		Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively			41		51
	Inventory, net				102		138
	Prepaid expenses				76		84
	Other current assets				21		23
			Total current assets		1,504		1,558
Assets held for sale					5		8
Licenses					2,225		1,886
Goodwill					–		370
Investments in unconsolidated entities					429		413
Property, plant and equipment
	In service and under construction				7,576		7,712
	Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization				5,313		5,242
			Property, plant and equipment, net		2,263		2,470
Other assets and deferred charges					354		405
Total assets1				$	6,780	$	7,110
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

27

United States Cellular Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheet — Liabilities and Equity

(Unaudited)

				September 30,		December 31,
				2017		2016
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Current liabilities
	Current portion of long-term debt			$	18	$	11
	Accounts payable
		Affiliated			11		12
		Trade			259		309
	Customer deposits and deferred revenues				176		190
	Accrued taxes				65		39
	Accrued compensation				68		73
	Other current liabilities				76		84
			Total current liabilities		673		718
Deferred liabilities and credits
	Deferred income tax liability, net				753		826
	Other deferred liabilities and credits				321		302
Long-term debt, net					1,626		1,618
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)
			Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)		88		88
		Additional paid-in capital			1,543		1,522
		Treasury shares, at cost, 3 Common Shares			(120)		(136)
		Retained earnings			1,884		2,160
			Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,395		3,634
	Noncontrolling interests				11		11
		Total equity			3,406		3,645
Total liabilities and equity1				$	6,780	$	7,110
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1		The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $777 million and $827 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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $20 million and $19 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular.  See Note 8 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

28

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, 2016	$	88	$	1,522	$	(136)	$	2,160	$	3,634	$	11	$	3,645
Net loss attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders		–		–		–		(261)		(261)		–		(261)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   classified as equity		–		–		–		–		–		2		2
Incentive and compensation plans		–		–		16		(15)		1		–		1
Stock-based compensation awards		–		21		–		–		21		–		21
Distributions to noncontrolling interests		–		–		–		–		–		(2)		(2)
Balance, September 30, 2017	$	88	$	1,543	$	(120)	$	1,884	$	3,395	$	11	$	3,406
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

29

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.

30

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. Certain numbers included herein are rounded to millions for ease of presentation; however, calculated amounts and percentages are determined using the unrounded numbers.  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, 2016.

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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and its cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.  The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  U.S. Cellular has not changed its significant accounting and reporting policies from those disclosed in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, except as described below.

Equipment Installment Plans

U.S. Cellular equipment revenue under equipment installment plan contracts is recognized at the time the device is delivered to the end-user customer for the selling price of the device, net of any deferred imputed interest or trade-in right, if applicable.  Imputed interest is reflected as a reduction to the receivable balance and recognized over the duration of the plan as Service revenues.  See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans.  Effective January 1, 2017, U.S. Cellular elected to change the classification of interest income on equipment installment plan contracts from Interest and dividend income to Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  U.S. Cellular believes this classification is preferable because financing of devices as part of enrolling customers for service is an activity that is central to U.S. Cellular’s operations, and it is consistent with the presentation by others in the industry.  Comparative financial statements of prior years have been adjusted to apply the new classification retrospectively.  As a result of this change in classification, Service revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, increased by $13 million and $37 million, respectively, from previously reported amounts, with a corresponding decrease in Interest and dividend income.  In comparison, Service revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, include $19 million and $52 million, respectively, of equipment installment plan interest income.  This change did not have an impact on Income before income taxes, Net income, or Earnings per share for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2016, nor did it have a cumulative impact to Retained earnings as of any date presented.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-19 Technical Corrections and Improvements (ASU 2016-19).  ASU 2016-19 includes an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software, which clarifies that a software license within the scope of the Subtopic will be accounted for as the acquisition of an intangible asset and the incurrence of a liability to the extent that the license fees are not fully paid at acquisition.  U.S. Cellular adopted this standard prospectively for all arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2017.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04).  ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test.  Goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value.  The loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  U.S. Cellular elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 and applied the new guidance to interim goodwill impairment testing performed during the third quarter of 2017.  See Note 6 – Intangible Assets for the discussion of U.S. Cellular’s goodwill impairment.

31

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

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, Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  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, ASU 2014-09 requires deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  Upon adoption, the cumulative effect adjustment is expected to include the establishment of contract asset and contract liability accounts with a corresponding adjustment to retained earnings to reflect the reallocation of revenues between service and equipment performance obligations for which control is transferred to customers in different periods.  Reallocation impacts generally arise when bundle discounts are provided in a contract arrangement that includes equipment and service performance obligations.  In these cases, the revenue will be reallocated according to the relative stand-alone selling prices of the performance obligations included in the bundle and this may be different than how the revenue is billed to the customer and recognized under current guidance.  In addition, contract cost assets will be established to reflect costs that will be deferred as incremental contract acquisition costs.  Incremental contract acquisition costs generally relate to commissions paid to sales associates.  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 did not adopt early.  U.S. Cellular expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  U.S. Cellular has identified that new systems, processes and controls are required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended.  U.S. Cellular has substantially completed the design and development of new systems to perform revenue recognition accounting under the provisions of ASU 2014-09, as amended, and is currently engaged in the process of testing these new systems.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and 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 the lessor accounting model.  However, some changes to the lessor accounting guidance were made to align with lessee accounting changes within Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, Leases and certain key aspects of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  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 effect that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

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 February 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets: Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (ASU 2017-05).  ASU 2017-05 clarifies how entities account for the derecognition of a nonfinancial asset and adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-05 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-05 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (ASU 2017-09).  ASU 2017-09 clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards must be accounted for as modifications.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In July 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-11, Earnings Per Share, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, Derivatives and Hedging: I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, II.Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception(ASU 2017-11).  The amendments in Part I of ASU 2017-11 that relate to liability or equity classification of financial instruments (or embedded features) affect all entities that issue financial instruments (for example, warrants or convertible instruments) that include down round features.  The amendments in Part II ASU 2017-11 do not have an accounting effect since the amendments only replace the indefinite deferral of certain guidance with a scope exception.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-11 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

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In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (ASU 2017-12).  ASU 2017-12 amends hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements to improve transparency and understandability of information disclosed in the financials as well as simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-12 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

U.S. Cellular records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis 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 $14million and $42 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $15 million and $49 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Note 2Fair Value Measurements

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, U.S. Cellular did not have any material 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 assets 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, 2017				December 31, 2016
			Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	498	$	498	$	586	$	586
Short-term Investments		1		50		50		–		–
Long-term debt
	Retail	2		917		970		917		929
	Institutional	2		534		572		533		532
	Other	2		194		194		203		203

The fair value of Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments approximate their book values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.  Long-term debt excludes capital lease obligations, product financing arrangements, the current portion of Long-term debt and debt financing costs.  The fair value of “Retail” Long-term debt was estimated using market prices for the 6.95% Senior Notes, 7.25% 2063 Senior Notes and 7.25% 2064 Senior Notes.  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 3.90%to 6.21% and3.78%to 6.93% at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

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Note 3Equipment Installment Plans

U.S. Cellular sells devices to customers under equipment installment contracts over a specified time period.  For certain equipment installment plans, 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.  When a customer exercises the trade-in option, both the outstanding receivable and guarantee liability balances related to the respective device are reduced to zero, and the value of the used device that is received in the transaction is recognized as inventory.  If the customer does not exercise the trade-in option at the time of eligibility, U.S. Cellular begins amortizing the liability and records this amortization as additional equipment revenue.  As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the guarantee liability related to these plans was $20 million and $33 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.  Because equipment installment plans have 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 recognizes it over the term of the installment agreement.  Equipment installment plan receivables had a weighted average effective imputed interest rate of 12.2% and 11.2% as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

The following table summarizes equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
(Dollars in millions)
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	776	$	628
Deferred interest		(69)		(53)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net of deferred interest		707		575
Allowance for credit losses		(58)		(50)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	649	$	525
Net balance presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as:
Accounts receivable — Customers and agents (Current portion)	$	387	$	345
Other assets and deferred charges (Non-current portion)		262		180
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	649	$	525

U.S. Cellular uses various inputs, including internal data, information from the credit bureaus and other sources, to evaluate the credit profiles of its customers.  From this evaluation, a credit class is assigned to the customer that determines the number of eligible lines, the amount of credit available, and the down payment requirement, if any.  Customers assigned to credit classes requiring no down payment represent a lower risk category, whereas those assigned to credit classes requiring a down payment represent a higher risk category.  The balance and aging of the equipment installment plan receivables on a gross basis by credit category were as follows:

	September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Lower Risk		Higher Risk		Total		Lower Risk		Higher Risk		Total
(Dollars in millions)
Unbilled	$	713	$	24	$	737	$	553	$	38	$	591
Billed — current		26		1		27		23		2		25
Billed — past due		10		2		12		10		2		12
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	749	$	27	$	776	$	586	$	42	$	628

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Activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, in the allowance for credit losses balance for the equipment installment plan receivables was as follows:

	September 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
(Dollars in millions)
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period	$	50	$	26
Bad debts expense		42		46
Write-offs, net of recoveries		(34)		(28)
Allowance for credit losses, end of period	$	58	$	44

Note 4Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders is computed by dividing Net income (loss) 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 (loss) 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 performance and 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,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	(299)	$	17	$	(261)	$	53
Weighted average number of shares used in basic   earnings (loss) per share		85		85		85		85
Effects of dilutive securities		–		–		–		–
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted   earnings (loss) per share		85		85		85		85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63

Certain Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of performance and restricted stock units were not included in average diluted shares outstanding for the calculation of Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders because their effects were antidilutive.  The number of such Common Shares excluded was 3million shares and 4 million shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and 3 million shares for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

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 was 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 occurred in the first quarter of 2017, at which time U.S. Cellular received $15 million of cash and recorded a gain of $17 million.

In July 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.  Prior to commencement of the forward auction, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million in June 2016 to establish its initial bidding eligibility.  In April 2017, the FCC announced by way of public notice that U.S. Cellular was the winning bidder for 188 licenses for an aggregate purchase price of $329 million.  U.S. Cellular paid the remaining $186 million to the FCC and was granted the licenses during the second quarter of 2017.

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Note 6Intangible Assets

Activity related to Licenses and Goodwill for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017, is presented below.

Licenses
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2016		$	1,886
	Acquisitions		331
	Transferred to Assets held for sale		(5)
	Exchanges - Licenses received		18
	Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(5)
Balance September 30, 2017		$	2,225

Goodwill
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2016		$	370
	Loss on impairment		(370)
Balance September 30, 2017		$	–

U.S. Cellular did not have any accumulated impairment losses prior to December 31, 2016. 

Goodwill Interim Impairment Assessment

U.S. Cellular operates in an intensely competitive wireless industry environment and has experienced declining service revenues in recent periods.  Based on recent 2017 developments, including wireless expansion plans announced by other companies and the results of the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses and other FCC actions, U.S. Cellular anticipates increased competition for customers in its primary operating markets from new and existing market participants over the long term.  In addition, the widening adoption of unlimited data plans and other data pricing constructs across the industry, including U.S. Cellular’s introduction of unlimited plans earlier in 2017, may limit the industry’s ability to monetize future growth in data usage.  These factors when assessed and considered as part of its annual planning process conducted in the third quarter of each year caused management to revise its long-range financial forecast in the third quarter of 2017.  Based on the factors noted above, management identified a triggering event and performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test on an interim basis. 

As permitted by ASU 2017-04, U.S. Cellular used a one-step quantitative approach that compared the fair value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit to its carrying value.  A discounted cash flow approach was used to value the reporting unit, using value drivers and risks specific to U.S. Cellular and the industry and current economic factors.  The cash flow estimates incorporated certain assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value and may not be indicative of U.S. Cellular specific assumptions.  However, the discount rate used in the analysis considers any additional risk a market participant might place on integrating the U.S. Cellular reporting unit into its operations.  The most significant assumptions made in this process were the revenue growth rate (shown as a compound annual growth rate in the table below), the terminal revenue growth rate, and the discount rate.

The following table represents key assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit using the discounted cash flow approach. 

Key assumptions
Revenue growth rate	0.8%
Terminal revenue growth rate	2.0%
Discount rate	9.5%

The results of the interim goodwill impairment test indicated that the carrying value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit exceeded its fair value.  Therefore, U.S. Cellular recognized a loss on impairment of goodwill of $370 million to reduce the carrying value of goodwill to zero.

In connection with the interim goodwill impairment test, conditions existed that indicated U.S. Cellular’s long-lived asset group might not be recoverable.  As a result, the company performed an interim long-lived asset recoverability assessment related to the U.S. Cellular asset group and determined that no impairment of the long-lived asset group existed as of the interim assessment date.

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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,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues	$	1,590	$	1,674	$	4,830	$	4,992
Operating expenses		1,180		1,249		3,615		3,647
Operating income		410		425		1,215		1,345
Other expense, net		–		(2)		(2)		(9)
Net income	$	410	$	423	$	1,213	$	1,336

Note 8Variable Interest Entities

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, 2016.

During the first quarter of 2017, U.S. Cellular formed USCC EIP LLC, a special purpose entity (SPE), to facilitate a potential securitized borrowing using its equipment installment plan receivables in the future.  Under a Receivables Sale Agreement, U.S. Cellular wholly-owned, majority-owned and unconsolidated entities, collectively referred to as “affiliated entities”, transfer device equipment installment contracts to USCC EIP LLC.  This SPE will aggregate device equipment installment plan contracts for further transfer into a separate bankruptcy remote securitization trust structure, perform servicing, collection and all other administrative activities related to accounting for equipment installment plan contracts. 

USCC EIP LLC’s sole business consists of the acquisition of the receivables from U.S. Cellular affiliated entities for the future transfer of receivables into a trust.  Given that U.S. Cellular has the power to direct the activities of this SPE, and that this SPE lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities, U.S. Cellular is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in the SPE and, therefore, consolidates it.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net equipment installment plan receivables totaling $1,093 million were transferred to the newly formed SPE from affiliated entities.  There were no receivables transferred as of December 31, 2016.  Because U.S. Cellular fully consolidates USCC EIP LLC, the transfer of receivables into this SPE did not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements of U.S. Cellular.  As of September 30, 2017, U.S. Cellular had not executed a securitized borrowing from a third party specific to its equipment installment plan receivables. 

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 Sunshine Spectrum, Inc. (Sunshine Spectrum), the general partner of Advantage Spectrum (former general partner was Frequency Advantage, L.P. (Frequency Advantage));
• 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.  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.

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In January 2017, Sunshine Spectrum and the other owner of Frequency Advantage (the previous general partner of Advantage Spectrum) completed a series of transactions whereby Frequency Advantage was dissolved and Sunshine Spectrum became the new general partner of Advantage Spectrum.  Consistent with its previous treatment of Frequency Advantage and in accordance with GAAP, U.S. Cellular consolidates Sunshine Spectrum in its financial statements. 

U.S. Cellular also consolidates other VIEs that are limited partnerships that provide wireless service.  A limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless the limited partners hold substantive participating rights or kick-out rights over the general partner.  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, these limited partnerships are also recognized as VIEs and are consolidated under the variable 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,
			2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	1	$	2
	Accounts receivable			433		44
	Other current assets			6		6
	Assets held for sale			3		2
	Licenses			652		652
	Property, plant and equipment, net			97		105
	Other assets and deferred charges			265		16
		Total assets	$	1,457	$	827
Liabilities
	Current liabilities		$	39	$	21
	Deferred liabilities and credits			13		13
		Total liabilities	$	52	$	34

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.

U.S. Cellular’s total investment in these unconsolidated entities was $4million and $6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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 $724 million, of which $701 million is related to USCC EIP LLC as discussed above, and $100 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, 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.

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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 Rules13a-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, 2017, 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, 2017, 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, 2016.  There have been no material changes to such information since December 31, 2016.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

In November 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. In December 2016, the U.S. Cellular Board amended this authorization to provide that the number of shares authorized for repurchase with respect to a particular year will be any amount from zero to 1,300,000 beginning on January 1, 2017, as determined by the Pricing Committee, and that if the Pricing Committee did not specify an amount for any year, such amount would be zero for such year. The Pricing Committee did not specify any amount as of January 1, 2017. The Pricing Committee also was authorized to decrease the cumulative amount of the authorization at any time, but has not taken any action to do so at this time. As a result, there was no change to the cumulative amount of the share repurchase authorization as of January 1, 2017. The authorization provides that share repurchases will be made pursuant to open market purchases, block purchases, private purchases, or otherwise, depending on market prices and other conditions. This authorization does not have an expiration date. U.S. Cellular did not determine to terminate the foregoing Common Share repurchase program, as amended, or cease making further purchases thereunder, during the third quarter of 2017.

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, 2017		–	$	–	–	5,900,849
August 1 – 31, 2017		–		–	–	5,900,849
September 1 – 30, 2017		–		–	–	5,900,849
	Total for or as of the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2017	–	$	–	–	5,900,849

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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.

U.S. Cellular did not borrow or repay any cash amounts under its revolving credit facility in the third quarter of 2017 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, 2017, or as of the filing date of this Form 10-Q. 

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Exhibits

Exhibit	Description of Documents
Exhibit 10.1	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan 2017 Performance 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 13, 2017.
Exhibit 10.2	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan 2017 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 13, 2017.
Exhibit 10.3	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan 2017 Performance Award Agreement for 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 April 3, 2017.
Exhibit 10.4	Form of 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan 2017 Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for 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 April 3, 2017.
Exhibit 10.5	U.S. Cellular 2017 Executive Officer Annual Incentive Plan effective January 1, 2017, is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to U.S. Cellular’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 15, 2017.
Exhibit 10.6	Offer Letter dated June 6, 2017, between U.S. Cellular and Jay Spenchian.
Exhibit 10.7	U.S. Cellular Amended and Restated Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
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 18	Preferability letter from Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm is hereby incorporated by reference to Exhibit 18 to U.S. Cellular’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017.
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, 2016.  Reference is made to U.S. Cellular’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, 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 - 38
	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	39
Part II.	Other Information
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	39
	Item1A.	Risk Factors	24
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	39
	Item 5.	Other Information	40
	Item 6.	Exhibits	41
Signatures			43

42

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 8, 2017		//s/ Kenneth R. Meyers
			Kenneth R. Meyers President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
Date:	November 8, 2017		/s/ Steven T. Campbell
			Steven T. Campbell Executive Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial officer)
Date:	November 8, 2017		/s/ Douglas D. Shuma
			Douglas D. Shuma Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)
Date:	November 8, 2017		/s/ Douglas W. Chambers
			Douglas W. Chambers Vice President and Controller

43

EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

June 6, 2017

Jay Spenchian

1825 Fielden Drive

Lexington, KY 40502

Dear Jay,

We are pleased to extend an offer for you to join U.S. Cellular as the Senior Vice President of Marketing reporting to Jay Ellison, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  We hope that you accept this offer and start on July 5, 2017.  Upon acceptance, your appointment as an officer is subject to the approval of the U.S. Cellular Board of Directors.

This letter contains our complete offer of employment to you.  Your starting salary will be $525,000 annualized or $20,192 paid bi-weekly and will be subject to all applicable withholdings.

We would like to offer you a lump sum payment of $100,000 payable on December 29, 2017.  This is subject to a one year clawback period from the date of payment.  Should you leave employment with U.S. Cellular prior to December 29, 2018, the lump sum amount will be required to be paid back in full.

We would like to offer you a Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) award equivalent to $200,000, which will be based on the closing stock price on the date you commence employment at U.S. Cellular.  Your RSUs will vest 50% on the first anniversary date of the grant and 50% on the second anniversary date of the grant.  Foregoing is subject to approval by the LTICC, which we would expect to obtain shortly after you accept this letter.

You will be eligible to participate in our annual bonus program with a bonus target of 50%.  Your 2017 bonus payment will be guaranteed at target and based on earnings paid during the bonus period.  See attached bonus plan for details.

You will be eligible to participate in the company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).  Assuming the LTIP continues in its current form with the same base pay multiples; your target Long-Term Incentive (LTI) value will be150% of your annual salary.  This target assumes that the company and you meet certain performance targets.

U.S. Cellular provides an excellent benefits package, including group insurance, 401(k) plan participation, pension, a Supplemental Executive Retirement Program (SERP) and flexible spending accounts.  Also, as a member of senior management, you are eligible to participate in two separate salary and bonus deferral programs.  Additional information regarding these programs, as well as U.S. Cellular’s complete benefits program, will be discussed with you at the time of hire.

We understand that making a move to follow your career aspirations isn’t always easy.  To assist you with the transition, we would like to offer relocation benefits which include up to six (6) months of temporary housing in the Chicagoland area, reimbursement of costs to move and store your personal goods for that period and any costs related to ending your current housing arrangements.

This offer is contingent on Board appointment.  This offer is also contingent upon you signing this letter and completing the USCC Services, LLC Confidentiality/ Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition agreement.  It’s important that you understand and follow all terms and conditions stated in the confidentiality agreement, and we will be happy to review the details with you directly.  As an associate, your employment remains at-will, meaning either you or the company can end your employment at any time, with or without notice or cause.  Neither this letter nor any other oral or written representations shall serve as an employment contract.

Jay, U.S. Cellular® is a dynamic organization that is an exciting and fulfilling place to work . We take pride in providing a rewarding career for our associates and a commitment of satisfaction to our valued customers. We are very excited about you moving into your new position and anticipate a mutually rewarding working relationship.

Congratulations on your new role and I look forward to a successful partnership.

Sincerely,

/s/ Jay Ellison

Jay Ellison

Executive Vice President – Chief Operating Officer

The provisions of the offer of employment referenced above, have been read, are understood, and the offer is herewith accepted.  I understand that my employment is contingent upon the completion of other requirements of the hiring process possibly including execution of an employment agreement, or any other contingencies U.S.Cellular needs to include.

Please read the following statement carefully, and then acknowledge that you have read and approved it by providing your signature below.   Return this signed letter and completed USCC Services, LLC Confidentiality/Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition Agreement to: U.S. Cellular®, 8410 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60631.Attention: Sara Rader, Senior Director Total Rewards and HR Operations.

By my signature below, I certify that I have read, fully understand and accept all terms of the foregoing statement.  Please signify your acceptance by entering the requested information in the field below.

Agreed and accepted by: /s/ Jay Spenchian Date: June 7, 2017

Copy:Deirdre Drake

SVP- Chief Human Resources Officer

Enclosures:

USCC Services, LLC Confidentiality/Non-Solicitation/Non-Competition Agreement

EX-10.7

Exhibit 10.7

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
Amended and Restated Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors

Dated August 15, 2017

Recitals

The Board of Directors and shareholders of United States Cellular Corporation (the “Company”) previously adopted a Restated Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, dated as of March 25, 2013 (the “2013 Restated Plan”). 

On August 15, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company approved  amendments to the 2013 Restated Plan (as amended, the “2017 Restated Plan”), to increase the Stock Award (as defined below) from $80,000 to $100,000, effective March 1, 2017, and to make certain updates thereto.

The purpose of the 2017 Restated Plan is to provide appropriate compensation to non-employee directors for their service to the Company and to ensure that qualified persons serve as non-employee members of the Board of Directors.

The 2017 Restated Plan was approved pursuant to the authority granted in Section 2.20 of Article II of the Company’s By-Laws, which provides that the Board of Directors shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation of directors, including reimbursement of expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors.

Effectiveness of 2017 Restated Plan

The 2013 Restated Plan was approved by shareholders of the Company at the 2013 Annual Meeting of shareholders and was effective at that time, and the 2017 Restated Plan became effective as of the date of approval by the Board of Directors on August 15, 2017. 

Board Service

Each director of the Company who is not an employee of the Company, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”), TDS Telecommunications Corporation or any other subsidiary of TDS (“non-employee director”) will receive:

1. An annual director’s retainer fee of $80,000, paid in cash (“Cash Retainer”).
2. An annual award of $100,000 paid in the form of the Company’s Common Shares (“Stock Award”), which shall be distributed in March on or prior to March 15 of each year, for services performed during the 12 month period that commences on March 1 of the immediately preceding calendar year and ends on the last day of February of the calendar year of payment.  The number of shares shall be determined on the basis of the closing price of the Company’s Common Shares, as reported in the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transaction section of the Wall Street Journal, for the first trading day in the month of March of the calendar year of payment.  (A director who is not a citizen of the United States may, at his or her election, receive such award in the form of cash.)
3. A director’s meeting fee of $1,750 for each meeting attended and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors, paid in cash.

Audit Committee Service

Each non-employee director who serves on the Audit Committee, other than the Chairperson of such committee, will receive an annual committee retainer fee of $11,000, a committee meeting fee of $1,750 for each meeting attended and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee Chairperson will receive an annual committee retainer fee of $22,000, a committee meeting fee of $1,750 for each meeting attended and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation Committee Service

Each non-employee director who serves on the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Committee, other than the Chairperson of such committee, will receive an annual committee retainer fee of $7,000, a committee meeting fee of $1,750 for each meeting attended and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Committee.  The Long-Term Incentive Compensation Committee Chairperson will receive an annual committee retainer fee of $14,000, a committee meeting fee of $1,750 for each meeting attended and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attendance at such meetings.

Other Meetings or Activities of Non-Employee Directors

The Board of Directors may also authorize the payment of fees and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in connection with other meetings (such as meetings of the independent directors) or activities of the non-employee directors.

Miscellaneous

Under the 2017 Restated Plan, annual retainers will be paid in cash on a quarterly basis, as of the last day of each calendar quarter, and will compensate the non-employee director for services performed during such calendar quarter.

Fees for meetings of the board, committee meetings and other meetings and activities will be paid in cash on a quarterly basis, as of the last day of each calendar quarter, and will compensate the non-employee director for meetings and activities attended during such calendar quarter.

Non-employee directors shall timely submit for reimbursement their reasonable expenses incurred in connection with meeting attendance or other activities, and the Company shall reimburse such expenses within two weeks after submission.

The directors of the Company shall have the authority without further shareholder approval to amend this plan from time to time, including amendments to increase the amount of the compensation payable in Common Shares from time to time, provided that the total number of Common Shares issued under the plan shall not exceed the number previously approved by shareholders of the Company.

Shareholders of the Company previously approved the issuance of up to 200,000 Common Shares under the 2013 Restated Plan, 154,318 of which remain unissued as of the above date. 

Unless otherwise approved by shareholders of the Company, the total number of Common Shares that may be issued under the 2017 Restated Plan shall not exceed such 154,318 Common Shares.

Pursuant to Section 303A.08 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the authorization to issue Common Shares under this plan shall expire ten years after the date of shareholder approval of such shares on May 14, 2013, unless reapproved by shareholders. If for any reason shares cannot be issued under this plan pursuant to the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise, the value of such shares that cannot be issued shall be paid in the form of cash.

EX-12

Exhibit 12

UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,
			2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
EARNINGS:
	Income (loss) before income taxes1		$	(278)	$	93
	Add (deduct):
		Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities		(101)		(110)
		Distributions from unconsolidated entities		85		55
		Amortization of capitalized interest		5		5
			$	(289)	$	43
	Add fixed charges:
		Consolidated interest expense2		85		84
		Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense		41		40
			$	(163)	$	167
FIXED CHARGES:
		Consolidated interest expense2	$	85	$	84
		Capitalized interest		–		1
		Interest portion (1/3) of consolidated rent expense		41		40
			$	126	$	125
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES				*		1.34
1		Includes Loss on impairment of goodwill of $370 million in 2017.  Amount also includes $19 million and $16 million of Gain on license sales and exchanges, net in 2017 and 2016, respectively.
2		Interest expense on income tax contingencies is not included in fixed charges.
*		Earnings in 2017 were inadequate to cover Fixed charges by $289 million.

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 8, 2017

/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 8, 2017

/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 2017 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 8, 2017

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 2017 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 8, 2017

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, 2017 shares
Entity Registrant Name	United States Cellular Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000821130
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	USM
Common Shares
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	52,117,967
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, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating revenues
Service	$ 737	$ 784	$ 2,223	$ 2,330
Equipment sales	226	239	639	655
Total operating revenues	963	1,023	2,862	2,985
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	185	196	549	572
Cost of equipment sold	261	280	749	799
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $20 million and $21 million, respectively, for the three months, and $62 million and $69 million, respectively, for the nine months)	350	370	1,041	1,089
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	153	155	460	462
Loss on impairment of goodwill	370	0	370	0
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	5	7	14	16
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1)	0	(1)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net		(7)	(19)	(16)
Total operating expenses	1,323	1,001	3,163	2,922
Operating income (loss)	(360)	22	(301)	63
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	35	38	101	110
Interest and dividend income	2	1	6	4
Interest expense	(28)	(28)	(85)	(84)
Other, net			1
Total investment and other income	9	11	23	30
Income (loss) before income taxes	(351)	33	(278)	93
Income tax expense (benefit)	(53)	15	(19)	39
Net income (loss)	(298)	18	(259)	54
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	1	2	1
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ (299)	$ 17	$ (261)	$ 53
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	85	85	85	85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ (3.51)	$ 0.20	$ (3.07)	$ 0.63
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	85	85	85	85
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ (3.51)	$ 0.20	$ (3.07)	$ 0.63

XML

Consolidated Statement Of Operations Parenthetical - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative, charges from affiliates	$ 20	$ 21	$ 62	$ 69

XML

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (259)	$ 54
Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	460	462
Bad debts expense	64	69
Stock-based compensation expense	21	19
Deferred income taxes, net	(73)	11
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(101)	(110)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	85	55
Loss on impairment of goodwill	370	0
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	14	16
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(1)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(19)	(16)
Noncash interest	1	1
Other operating activities	0	(2)
Changes in assets and liabilities from operations
Accounts receivable	(16)	1
Equipment installment plans receivable	(164)	(160)
Inventory	36	2
Accounts payable	(58)	45
Customer deposits and deferred revenues	(13)	(41)
Accrued taxes	31	38
Accrued interest	9	7
Other assets and liabilities	7	(36)
Net cash provided by operating activities	394	415
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment	(252)	(280)
Cash paid for licenses	(189)	(46)
Cash paid for investments	(50)	0
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges	19	20
Federal Communications Commission deposit	0	(143)
Net cash used in investing activities	(472)	(449)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt	(9)	(8)
Common shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments	1	4
Common shares repurchased	0	(2)
Payment of debt issuance costs	0	(2)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(1)
Other financing activities		2
Net cash used in financing activities	(10)	(7)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(88)	(41)
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	586	715
End of period	$ 498	$ 674

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 498	$ 586
Short-term investments		50	0
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $52 and $51, respectively		691	658
Roaming		25	16
Affiliated			2
Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively		41	51
Inventory, net		102	138
Prepaid expenses		76	84
Other current assets		21	23
Total current assets		1,504	1,558
Assets held for sale		5	8
Licenses		2,225	1,886
Goodwill		0	370
Investments in unconsolidated entities		429	413
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		7,576	7,712
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		5,313	5,242
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,263	2,470
Other assets and deferred charges		354	405
Total assets	[1]	6,780	7,110
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		18	11
Accounts payable
Affiliated		11	12
Trade		259	309
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		176	190
Accrued taxes		65	39
Accrued compensation		68	73
Other current liabilities		76	84
Total current liabilities		673	718
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net		753	826
Other deferred liabilities and credits		321	302
Long-term debt, net		1,626	1,618
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) Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)		88	88
Additional paid-in capital		1,543	1,522
Treasury Shares, at cost, 3 Common Shares		(120)	(136)
Retained earnings		1,884	2,160
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,395	3,634
Noncontrolling interests		11	11
Total equity		3,406	3,645
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 6,780	$ 7,110

[1] The consolidated total assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, include assets held by consolidated VIEs of $777 million and $827 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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $20 million and $19 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular. See Note 8 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheet Parenthetical - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts receivable
Customer and agent allowances	$ 52	$ 51
Other allowances	$ 1	$ 1
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Authorized shares	190	190
Issued shares	88	88
Outstanding shares	85	85
Par value	$ 88	$ 88
Variable Interest Entities VIEs
Total VIE assets that can be used to settle only the VIEs' obligations	777	827
Total VIE liabilities for which creditors have no recourse	$ 20	$ 19
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	52
Par value per share	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Par value	$ 55	$ 55
Treasury shares	3	3

XML

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, 2015	$ 3,571	$ 88	$ 1,497	$ (157)	$ 2,133	$ 3,561	$ 10
Net income (loss) 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	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
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	3,645	88	1,522	(136)	2,160	3,634	11
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	(261)				(261)	(261)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests classified as equity	2						2
Incentive and compensation plans	1			16	(15)	1
Stock-based compensation awards	21		21			21
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2)						(2)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017	$ 3,406	$ 88	$ 1,543	$ (120)	$ 1,884	$ 3,395	$ 11

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Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

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. Certain numbers included herein are rounded to millions for ease of presentation; however, calculated amounts and percentages are determined using the unrounded numbers.  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, 2016.

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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and its cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.  The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  U.S. Cellular has not changed its significant accounting and reporting policies from those disclosed in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, except as described below.

Equipment Installment Plans

U.S. Cellular equipment revenue under equipment installment plan contracts is recognized at the time the device is delivered to the end-user customer for the selling price of the device, net of any deferred imputed interest or trade-in right, if applicable.  Imputed interest is reflected as a reduction to the receivable balance and recognized over the duration of the plan as Service revenues.  See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans.  Effective January 1, 2017, U.S. Cellular elected to change the classification of interest income on equipment installment plan contracts from Interest and dividend income to Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  U.S. Cellular believes this classification is preferable because financing of devices as part of enrolling customers for service is an activity that is central to U.S. Cellular’s operations, and it is consistent with the presentation by others in the industry.  Comparative financial statements of prior years have been adjusted to apply the new classification retrospectively.  As a result of this change in classification, Service revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, increased by $13 million and $37 million, respectively, from previously reported amounts, with a corresponding decrease in Interest and dividend income.  In comparison, Service revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, include $19 million and $52 million, respectively, of equipment installment plan interest income.  This change did not have an impact on Income before income taxes, Net income, or Earnings per share for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2016, nor did it have a cumulative impact to Retained earnings as of any date presented.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-19 Technical Corrections and Improvements (ASU 2016-19).  ASU 2016-19 includes an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software, which clarifies that a software license within the scope of the Subtopic will be accounted for as the acquisition of an intangible asset and the incurrence of a liability to the extent that the license fees are not fully paid at acquisition.  U.S. Cellular adopted this standard prospectively for all arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2017.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04).  ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test.  Goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value.  The loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  U.S. Cellular elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 and applied the new guidance to interim goodwill impairment testing performed during the third quarter of 2017.  See Note 6 – Intangible Assets for the discussion of U.S. Cellular’s goodwill impairment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

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, Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  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, ASU 2014-09 requires deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  Upon adoption, the cumulative effect adjustment is expected to include the establishment of contract asset and contract liability accounts with a corresponding adjustment to retained earnings to reflect the reallocation of revenues between service and equipment performance obligations for which control is transferred to customers in different periods.  Reallocation impacts generally arise when bundle discounts are provided in a contract arrangement that includes equipment and service performance obligations.  In these cases, the revenue will be reallocated according to the relative stand-alone selling prices of the performance obligations included in the bundle and this may be different than how the revenue is billed to the customer and recognized under current guidance.  In addition, contract cost assets will be established to reflect costs that will be deferred as incremental contract acquisition costs.  Incremental contract acquisition costs generally relate to commissions paid to sales associates.  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 did not adopt early.  U.S. Cellular expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  U.S. Cellular has identified that new systems, processes and controls are required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended.  U.S. Cellular has substantially completed the design and development of new systems to perform revenue recognition accounting under the provisions of ASU 2014-09, as amended, and is currently engaged in the process of testing these new systems.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and 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 the lessor accounting model.  However, some changes to the lessor accounting guidance were made to align with lessee accounting changes within Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, Leases and certain key aspects of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  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 effect that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

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 February 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets: Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (ASU 2017-05).  ASU 2017-05 clarifies how entities account for the derecognition of a nonfinancial asset and adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-05 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-05 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (ASU 2017-09).  ASU 2017-09 clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards must be accounted for as modifications.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In July 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-11, Earnings Per Share, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, Derivatives and Hedging: I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, II.Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception (ASU 2017-11).  The amendments in Part I of ASU 2017-11 that relate to liability or equity classification of financial instruments (or embedded features) affect all entities that issue financial instruments (for example, warrants or convertible instruments) that include down round features.  The amendments in Part II ASU 2017-11 do not have an accounting effect since the amendments only replace the indefinite deferral of certain guidance with a scope exception.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-11 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (ASU 2017-12).  ASU 2017-12 amends hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements to improve transparency and understandability of information disclosed in the financials as well as simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-12 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

Amounts Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities

U.S. Cellular records amounts collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis 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 $14million and $42 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $15 million and $49 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

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Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Note 2Fair Value Measurements

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, U.S. Cellular did not have any material 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 assets 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, 2017				December 31, 2016
			Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	498	$	498	$	586	$	586
Short-term Investments		1		50		50		–		–
Long-term debt
	Retail	2		917		970		917		929
	Institutional	2		534		572		533		532
	Other	2		194		194		203		203

The fair value of Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments approximate their book values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.  Long-term debt excludes capital lease obligations, product financing arrangements, the current portion of Long-term debt and debt financing costs.  The fair value of “Retail” Long-term debt was estimated using market prices for the 6.95% Senior Notes, 7.25% 2063 Senior Notes and 7.25% 2064 Senior Notes.  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 3.90%to 6.21% and3.78% to 6.93% at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

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Equipment Installment Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Receivables [Abstract]

Equipment Installment Plans

Note 3Equipment Installment Plans

U.S. Cellular sells devices to customers under equipment installment contracts over a specified time period.  For certain equipment installment plans, 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.  When a customer exercises the trade-in option, both the outstanding receivable and guarantee liability balances related to the respective device are reduced to zero, and the value of the used device that is received in the transaction is recognized as inventory.  If the customer does not exercise the trade-in option at the time of eligibility, U.S. Cellular begins amortizing the liability and records this amortization as additional equipment revenue.  As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the guarantee liability related to these plans was $20 million and $33 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.  Because equipment installment plans have 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 recognizes it over the term of the installment agreement.  Equipment installment plan receivables had a weighted average effective imputed interest rate of 12.2% and 11.2% as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

The following table summarizes equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
(Dollars in millions)
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	776	$	628
Deferred interest		(69)		(53)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net of deferred interest		707		575
Allowance for credit losses		(58)		(50)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	649	$	525
Net balance presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as:
Accounts receivable — Customers and agents (Current portion)	$	387	$	345
Other assets and deferred charges (Non-current portion)		262		180
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	649	$	525

U.S. Cellular uses various inputs, including internal data, information from the credit bureaus and other sources, to evaluate the credit profiles of its customers.  From this evaluation, a credit class is assigned to the customer that determines the number of eligible lines, the amount of credit available, and the down payment requirement, if any.  Customers assigned to credit classes requiring no down payment represent a lower risk category, whereas those assigned to credit classes requiring a down payment represent a higher risk category.  The balance and aging of the equipment installment plan receivables on a gross basis by credit category were as follows:

	September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Lower Risk		Higher Risk		Total		Lower Risk		Higher Risk		Total
(Dollars in millions)
Unbilled	$	713	$	24	$	737	$	553	$	38	$	591
Billed — current		26		1		27		23		2		25
Billed — past due		10		2		12		10		2		12
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	749	$	27	$	776	$	586	$	42	$	628

Activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, in the allowance for credit losses balance for the equipment installment plan receivables was as follows:

	September 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
(Dollars in millions)
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period	$	50	$	26
Bad debts expense		42		46
Write-offs, net of recoveries		(34)		(28)
Allowance for credit losses, end of period	$	58	$	44

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Earnings Per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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 (loss) 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 (loss) 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 performance and 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,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	(299)	$	17	$	(261)	$	53
Weighted average number of shares used in basic   earnings (loss) per share		85		85		85		85
Effects of dilutive securities		–		–		–		–
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted   earnings (loss) per share		85		85		85		85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63

Certain Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of performance and restricted stock units were not included in average diluted shares outstanding for the calculation of Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders because their effects were antidilutive.  The number of such Common Shares excluded was 3million shares and 4 million shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and 3 million shares for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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 was 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 occurred in the first quarter of 2017, at which time U.S. Cellular received $15 million of cash and recorded a gain of $17 million.

In July 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.  Prior to commencement of the forward auction, U.S. Cellular made an upfront payment to the FCC of $143 million in June 2016 to establish its initial bidding eligibility.  In April 2017, the FCC announced by way of public notice that U.S. Cellular was the winning bidder for 188 licenses for an aggregate purchase price of $329 million.  U.S. Cellular paid the remaining $186 million to the FCC and was granted the licenses during the second quarter of 2017.

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Intangible Assets

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Intangible Assets

Note 6Intangible Assets

Activity related to Licenses and Goodwill for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017, is presented below.

Licenses
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2016		$	1,886
	Acquisitions		331
	Transferred to Assets held for sale		(5)
	Exchanges - Licenses received		18
	Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(5)
Balance September 30, 2017		$	2,225

Goodwill
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2016		$	370
	Loss on impairment		(370)
Balance September 30, 2017		$	–

U.S. Cellular did not have any accumulated impairment losses prior to December 31, 2016. 

Goodwill Interim Impairment Assessment

U.S. Cellular operates in an intensely competitive wireless industry environment and has experienced declining service revenues in recent periods.  Based on recent 2017 developments, including wireless expansion plans announced by other companies and the results of the FCC’s forward auction of 600 MHz spectrum licenses and other FCC actions, U.S. Cellular anticipates increased competition for customers in its primary operating markets from new and existing market participants over the long term.  In addition, the widening adoption of unlimited data plans and other data pricing constructs across the industry, including U.S. Cellular’s introduction of unlimited plans earlier in 2017, may limit the industry’s ability to monetize future growth in data usage.  These factors when assessed and considered as part of its annual planning process conducted in the third quarter of each year caused management to revise its long-range financial forecast in the third quarter of 2017.  Based on the factors noted above, management identified a triggering event and performed a quantitative goodwill impairment test on an interim basis. 

As permitted by ASU 2017-04, U.S. Cellular used a one-step quantitative approach that compared the fair value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit to its carrying value.  A discounted cash flow approach was used to value the reporting unit, using value drivers and risks specific to U.S. Cellular and the industry and current economic factors.  The cash flow estimates incorporated certain assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value and may not be indicative of U.S. Cellular specific assumptions.  However, the discount rate used in the analysis considers any additional risk a market participant might place on integrating the U.S. Cellular reporting unit into its operations.  The most significant assumptions made in this process were the revenue growth rate (shown as a compound annual growth rate in the table below), the terminal revenue growth rate, and the discount rate.

The following table represents key assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit using the discounted cash flow approach. 

Key assumptions
Revenue growth rate	0.8%
Terminal revenue growth rate	2.0%
Discount rate	9.5%

The results of the interim goodwill impairment test indicated that the carrying value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit exceeded its fair value.  Therefore, U.S. Cellular recognized a loss on impairment of goodwill of $370 million to reduce the carrying value of goodwill to zero.

In connection with the interim goodwill impairment test, conditions existed that indicated U.S. Cellular’s long-lived asset group might not be recoverable.  As a result, the company performed an interim long-lived asset recoverability assessment related to the U.S. Cellular asset group and determined that no impairment of the long-lived asset group existed as of the interim assessment date.

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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues	$	1,590	$	1,674	$	4,830	$	4,992
Operating expenses		1,180		1,249		3,615		3,647
Operating income		410		425		1,215		1,345
Other expense, net		–		(2)		(2)		(9)
Net income	$	410	$	423	$	1,213	$	1,336

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Variable Interest Entities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entities

Note 8Variable Interest Entities

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, 2016.

During the first quarter of 2017, U.S. Cellular formed USCC EIP LLC, a special purpose entity (SPE), to facilitate a potential securitized borrowing using its equipment installment plan receivables in the future.  Under a Receivables Sale Agreement, U.S. Cellular wholly-owned, majority-owned and unconsolidated entities, collectively referred to as “affiliated entities”, transfer device equipment installment contracts to USCC EIP LLC.  This SPE will aggregate device equipment installment plan contracts for further transfer into a separate bankruptcy remote securitization trust structure, perform servicing, collection and all other administrative activities related to accounting for equipment installment plan contracts. 

USCC EIP LLC’s sole business consists of the acquisition of the receivables from U.S. Cellular affiliated entities for the future transfer of receivables into a trust.  Given that U.S. Cellular has the power to direct the activities of this SPE, and that this SPE lacks sufficient equity to finance its activities, U.S. Cellular is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in the SPE and, therefore, consolidates it.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, net equipment installment plan receivables totaling $1,093 million were transferred to the newly formed SPE from affiliated entities.  There were no receivables transferred as of December 31, 2016.  Because U.S. Cellular fully consolidates USCC EIP LLC, the transfer of receivables into this SPE did not have a material impact to the consolidated financial statements of U.S. Cellular.  As of September 30, 2017, U.S. Cellular had not executed a securitized borrowing from a third party specific to its equipment installment plan receivables. 

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 Sunshine Spectrum, Inc. (Sunshine Spectrum), the general partner of Advantage Spectrum (former general partner was Frequency Advantage, L.P. (Frequency Advantage));
• 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.  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 January 2017, Sunshine Spectrum and the other owner of Frequency Advantage (the previous general partner of Advantage Spectrum) completed a series of transactions whereby Frequency Advantage was dissolved and Sunshine Spectrum became the new general partner of Advantage Spectrum.  Consistent with its previous treatment of Frequency Advantage and in accordance with GAAP, U.S. Cellular consolidates Sunshine Spectrum in its financial statements. 

U.S. Cellular also consolidates other VIEs that are limited partnerships that provide wireless service.  A limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless the limited partners hold substantive participating rights or kick-out rights over the general partner.  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, these limited partnerships are also recognized as VIEs and are consolidated under the variable 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,
			2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	1	$	2
	Accounts receivable			433		44
	Other current assets			6		6
	Assets held for sale			3		2
	Licenses			652		652
	Property, plant and equipment, net			97		105
	Other assets and deferred charges			265		16
		Total assets	$	1,457	$	827
Liabilities
	Current liabilities		$	39	$	21
	Deferred liabilities and credits			13		13
		Total liabilities	$	52	$	34

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.

U.S. Cellular’s total investment in these unconsolidated entities was $4million and $6 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, 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 $724 million, of which $701 million is related to USCC EIP LLC as discussed above, and $100 million during the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, 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.

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

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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. Certain numbers included herein are rounded to millions for ease of presentation; however, calculated amounts and percentages are determined using the unrounded numbers.  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, 2016.

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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and its cash flows and changes in equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.  The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was not included because comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, equaled net income. These results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  U.S. Cellular has not changed its significant accounting and reporting policies from those disclosed in its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, except as described below.

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles

U.S. Cellular equipment revenue under equipment installment plan contracts is recognized at the time the device is delivered to the end-user customer for the selling price of the device, net of any deferred imputed interest or trade-in right, if applicable.  Imputed interest is reflected as a reduction to the receivable balance and recognized over the duration of the plan as Service revenues.  See Note 3 — Equipment Installment Plans.  Effective January 1, 2017, U.S. Cellular elected to change the classification of interest income on equipment installment plan contracts from Interest and dividend income to Service revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  U.S. Cellular believes this classification is preferable because financing of devices as part of enrolling customers for service is an activity that is central to U.S. Cellular’s operations, and it is consistent with the presentation by others in the industry.  Comparative financial statements of prior years have been adjusted to apply the new classification retrospectively.  As a result of this change in classification, Service revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, increased by $13 million and $37 million, respectively, from previously reported amounts, with a corresponding decrease in Interest and dividend income.  In comparison, Service revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, include $19 million and $52 million, respectively, of equipment installment plan interest income.  This change did not have an impact on Income before income taxes, Net income, or Earnings per share for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2016, nor did it have a cumulative impact to Retained earnings as of any date presented.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-19 Technical Corrections and Improvements (ASU 2016-19).  ASU 2016-19 includes an amendment to Accounting Standards Codification Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software, which clarifies that a software license within the scope of the Subtopic will be accounted for as the acquisition of an intangible asset and the incurrence of a liability to the extent that the license fees are not fully paid at acquisition.  U.S. Cellular adopted this standard prospectively for all arrangements entered into or materially modified after January 1, 2017.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (ASU 2017-04).  ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test.  Goodwill impairment loss will be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value.  The loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  U.S. Cellular elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04 and applied the new guidance to interim goodwill impairment testing performed during the third quarter of 2017.  See Note 6 – Intangible Assets for the discussion of U.S. Cellular’s goodwill impairment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

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, Accounting Standards Update 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, and Accounting Standards Update 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  These standards replace existing revenue recognition rules with a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers.  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, ASU 2014-09 requires deferral of incremental contract acquisition and fulfillment costs and subsequent expense recognition over the contract period or expected customer life.  Upon adoption, the cumulative effect adjustment is expected to include the establishment of contract asset and contract liability accounts with a corresponding adjustment to retained earnings to reflect the reallocation of revenues between service and equipment performance obligations for which control is transferred to customers in different periods.  Reallocation impacts generally arise when bundle discounts are provided in a contract arrangement that includes equipment and service performance obligations.  In these cases, the revenue will be reallocated according to the relative stand-alone selling prices of the performance obligations included in the bundle and this may be different than how the revenue is billed to the customer and recognized under current guidance.  In addition, contract cost assets will be established to reflect costs that will be deferred as incremental contract acquisition costs.  Incremental contract acquisition costs generally relate to commissions paid to sales associates.  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 did not adopt early.  U.S. Cellular expects to transition to the new standard under the modified retrospective transition method whereby a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings is recognized upon adoption and the guidance is applied prospectively.  U.S. Cellular has identified that new systems, processes and controls are required to adopt ASU 2014-09, as amended.  U.S. Cellular has substantially completed the design and development of new systems to perform revenue recognition accounting under the provisions of ASU 2014-09, as amended, and is currently engaged in the process of testing these new systems.  U.S. Cellular is evaluating the effects that adoption of ASU 2014-09, as amended, will have on its financial position and 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 the lessor accounting model.  However, some changes to the lessor accounting guidance were made to align with lessee accounting changes within Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, Leases and certain key aspects of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  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 effect that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial condition, results of operations and disclosures.

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 February 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-05, Other Income – Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets: Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (ASU 2017-05).  ASU 2017-05 clarifies how entities account for the derecognition of a nonfinancial asset and adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-05 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-05 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (ASU 2017-09).  ASU 2017-09 clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards must be accounted for as modifications.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-09 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In July 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-11, Earnings Per Share, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, Derivatives and Hedging: I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, II.Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception (ASU 2017-11).  The amendments in Part I of ASU 2017-11 that relate to liability or equity classification of financial instruments (or embedded features) affect all entities that issue financial instruments (for example, warrants or convertible instruments) that include down round features.  The amendments in Part II ASU 2017-11 do not have an accounting effect since the amendments only replace the indefinite deferral of certain guidance with a scope exception.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-11 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-11 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (ASU 2017-12).  ASU 2017-12 amends hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements to improve transparency and understandability of information disclosed in the financials as well as simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance.  U.S. Cellular is required to adopt ASU 2017-12 on January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted.  The adoption of ASU 2017-12 is not expected to have a significant impact on U.S. Cellular’s financial position or results of operations.

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, 2016.

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Fair Value Measurements (Table)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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, 2017				December 31, 2016
			Book Value		Fair Value		Book Value		Fair Value
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents		1	$	498	$	498	$	586	$	586
Short-term Investments		1		50		50		–		–
Long-term debt
	Retail	2		917		970		917		929
	Institutional	2		534		572		533		532
	Other	2		194		194		203		203

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Equipment Installment Plans (Table)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Receivables [Abstract]

Equipment installment plans

The following table summarizes equipment installment plan receivables as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

	September 30, 2017		December 31, 2016
(Dollars in millions)
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	776	$	628
Deferred interest		(69)		(53)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net of deferred interest		707		575
Allowance for credit losses		(58)		(50)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	649	$	525
Net balance presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as:
Accounts receivable — Customers and agents (Current portion)	$	387	$	345
Other assets and deferred charges (Non-current portion)		262		180
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$	649	$	525

Equipment installment plan receivables credit categories

The balance and aging of the equipment installment plan receivables on a gross basis by credit category were as follows:

	September 30, 2017						December 31, 2016
	Lower Risk		Higher Risk		Total		Lower Risk		Higher Risk		Total
(Dollars in millions)
Unbilled	$	713	$	24	$	737	$	553	$	38	$	591
Billed — current		26		1		27		23		2		25
Billed — past due		10		2		12		10		2		12
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$	749	$	27	$	776	$	586	$	42	$	628

Equipment installment plans allowance for credit losses

Activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, in the allowance for credit losses balance for the equipment installment plan receivables was as follows:

	September 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
(Dollars in millions)
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period	$	50	$	26
Bad debts expense		42		46
Write-offs, net of recoveries		(34)		(28)
Allowance for credit losses, end of period	$	58	$	44

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	(299)	$	17	$	(261)	$	53
Weighted average number of shares used in basic   earnings (loss) per share		85		85		85		85
Effects of dilutive securities		–		–		–		–
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted   earnings (loss) per share		85		85		85		85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular   shareholders	$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to   U.S. Cellular shareholders	$	(3.51)	$	0.20	$	(3.07)	$	0.63

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Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Licenses

Licenses

Activity related to Licenses and Goodwill for the nine months endedSeptember 30, 2017, is presented below.

Licenses
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2016		$	1,886
	Acquisitions		331
	Transferred to Assets held for sale		(5)
	Exchanges - Licenses received		18
	Exchanges - Licenses surrendered		(5)
Balance September 30, 2017		$	2,225

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill
(Dollars in millions)
Balance December 31, 2016		$	370
	Loss on impairment		(370)
Balance September 30, 2017		$	–

Fair Value Inputs

Fair Value Key Assumptions

The following table represents key assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the U.S. Cellular reporting unit using the discounted cash flow approach. 

Key assumptions
Revenue growth rate	0.8%
Terminal revenue growth rate	2.0%
Discount rate	9.5%

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Investment in Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Revenues	$	1,590	$	1,674	$	4,830	$	4,992
Operating expenses		1,180		1,249		3,615		3,647
Operating income		410		425		1,215		1,345
Other expense, net		–		(2)		(2)		(9)
Net income	$	410	$	423	$	1,213	$	1,336

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Variable Interest Entities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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,
			2017		2016
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	1	$	2
	Accounts receivable			433		44
	Other current assets			6		6
	Assets held for sale			3		2
	Licenses			652		652
	Property, plant and equipment, net			97		105
	Other assets and deferred charges			265		16
		Total assets	$	1,457	$	827
Liabilities
	Current liabilities		$	39	$	21
	Deferred liabilities and credits			13		13
		Total liabilities	$	52	$	34

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Basis of Presentation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Amounts recorded gross in revenues that are billed to customers and remitted to governmental authorities	$ 14	$ 15	$ 42	$ 49
Equipment Installment Plans Accounting Change
Service revenue	737	784	2,223	2,330
Interest and dividend income	2	1	6	4
Adjustment
Equipment Installment Plans Accounting Change
Service revenue	$ 19	13	$ 52	37
Interest and dividend income		$ (13)		$ (37)
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, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 498	$ 586	$ 674	$ 715
Short-term investments	$ 50	$ 0
Institutional and Other | Minimum
Financial Instruments
Fair value assumption, interest rate	3.90%	3.78%
Institutional and Other | Maximum
Financial Instruments
Fair value assumption, interest rate	6.21%	6.93%
Fair Value | Level 1
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 498	$ 586
Short-term investments	50	0
Fair Value | Level 2 | Retail
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	970	929
Fair Value | Level 2 | Institutional
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	572	532
Fair Value | Level 2 | Other
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	194	203
Book Value
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents	498	586
Short-term investments	50	0
Book Value | Retail
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	917	917
Book Value | Institutional
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	534	533
Book Value | Other
Financial Instruments
Long-term debt	$ 194	$ 203

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Equipment Installment Plan Receivables, EIP Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Equipment installment plans [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$ 776	$ 628
Deferred interest	(69)	(53)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net of deferred interest	707	575
Allowance for credit losses	(58)	(50)
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	649	525
Accounts receivable - Customers and agents
Equipment installment plans [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	387	345
Other assets and deferred charges
Equipment installment plans [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables, net	$ 262	$ 180

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Equipment Installment Plan Receivables, Gross Receivables by Credit Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	$ 776	$ 628
Unbilled
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables	737	591
Billed
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables	27	25
Equipment installment plan receivables, past due	12	12
Lower Risk
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	749	586
Lower Risk | Unbilled
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables	713	553
Lower Risk | Billed
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables	26	23
Equipment installment plan receivables, past due	10	10
Higher Risk
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables, gross	27	42
Higher Risk | Unbilled
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables	24	38
Higher Risk | Billed
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]
Equipment installment plan receivables	1	2
Equipment installment plan receivables, past due	$ 2	$ 2

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Equipment Installment Plan Receivables, Allowance for Credit Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period	$ 50
Allowance for credit losses, end of period	58
Equipment Installment Plan Receivable
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period	50	$ 26
Bad debts expense	42	46
Write-offs, net of recoveries	(34)	(28)
Allowance for credit losses, end of period	$ 58	$ 44

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Equipment Installment Plan Receivables, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Equipment installment plans [Line Items]
Guarantee liability	$ 20	$ 33
Imputed interest rate	12.20%	11.20%

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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, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings per share
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ (299)	$ 17	$ (261)	$ 53
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings (loss) per share	85	85	85	85
Effects of dilutive securities	0		0
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per share	85	85	85	85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ (3.51)	$ 0.20	$ (3.07)	$ 0.63
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ (3.51)	$ 0.20	$ (3.07)	$ 0.63

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Earnings Per Share, Narrative (Details) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings per share, Other disclosures
Antidilutive securities	3	3	4	3

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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Acquisitions
Cash paid for licenses								$ 189	$ 46
Federal Communications Commission deposit								0	143
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges								19	20
Gain on license sales and exchanges						$ 7		$ 19	$ 16
License exchange 1
Exchanges
Net cash to be received			$ 28
License exchange 1, first closing
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges							$ 13
Gain on license sales and exchanges							$ 9
License exchange 1, second closing
Exchanges
Cash received from divestitures and exchanges					$ 15
Gain on license sales and exchanges					$ 17
Auction 1002
Acquisitions
Cash paid for licenses				$ 186
Federal Communications Commission deposit		$ 143
Fcc License Auction Total Licenses Won	188
Fcc License Auction Total Winning Bid	$ 329

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Intangible Assets (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill
Balance, beginning of period	$ 370
Loss on impairment	(370)
Balance, end of period	0
Licenses
Licenses
Balance, beginning of period	1,886
Acquisitions	331
Transferred to Assets held for sale	(5)
Exchanges - Licenses received	18
Exchanges - Licenses surrendered	(5)
Balance, end of period	$ 2,225

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Intangible Assets, Key Assumptions (Details) - Discounted cash flow valuation approach	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value Inputs
Revenue growth rate	0.80%
Terminal revenue growth rate	2.00%
Discount Rate	9.50%

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Intangible Assets, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill
Loss on impairment	$ 370
Goodwill	0	$ 370
Goodwill
Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses in prior periods		$ 0
Loss on impairment	370
Goodwill	$ 0

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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Equity method investments, combined income statements
Revenues	$ 1,590	$ 1,674	$ 4,830	$ 4,992
Operating expenses	1,180	1,249	3,615	3,647
Operating income	410	425	1,215	1,345
Other expense, net		(2)	(2)	(9)
Net income	$ 410	$ 423	$ 1,213	$ 1,336

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Variable Interest Entities, Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 498	$ 586	$ 674	$ 715
Accounts receivable	691	658
Other current assets	21	23
Assets held for sale	5	8
Licenses	2,225	1,886
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,263	2,470
Other assets and deferred charges	354	405
Liabilities
Current liabilities	673	718
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1	2
Accounts receivable	433	44
Other current assets	6	6
Assets held for sale	3	2
Licenses	652	652
Property, plant and equipment, net	97	105
Other assets and deferred charges	265	16
Total assets	1,457	827
Liabilities
Current liabilities	39	21
Deferred liabilities and credits	13	13
Total liabilities	$ 52	$ 34

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Variable Interest Entities, Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Capital contributions, loans or advances	$ 724	$ 100
Investments in unconsolidated entities, maximum exposure	4		$ 6
Transfer of net equipment installment plan receivables	1,093		$ 0
USCC EIP LLC
Variable Interest Entities, Other Disclosures
Capital contributions, loans or advances	$ 701