XML 151 R53.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.3.a.u2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Narrative (Details)
12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
reporting_unit
unit
asset_group
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Basis of presentation        
Number of wireless connections   4,900,000    
Wireline and Cable connections   1,200,000    
FCC licenses, number of accounting units | unit   8    
FCC licenses, number of accounting units, built licenses | unit   1    
FCC licenses, number of accounting units, unbuilt licenses | unit   7    
Loss on impairment of goodwill   $ 0 $ 0 $ 262,000,000
Goodwill   547,000,000 509,000,000 509,000,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   932,000,000 883,000,000 844,000,000
Net income   147,000,000 175,000,000 157,000,000
Advertising costs   227,000,000 230,000,000 228,000,000
U.S. Cellular        
Basis of presentation        
Loss on impairment of goodwill       370,000,000
Goodwill       0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   702,000,000 640,000,000 615,000,000
Net income   133,000,000 164,000,000 15,000,000
Agent liability   $ 59,000,000 63,000,000  
TDS Telecom        
Basis of presentation        
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit   2    
Loss on impairment of goodwill       0
Asset groups | asset_group   2    
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   $ 200,000,000 212,000,000 195,000,000
Net income   92,000,000 89,000,000 138,000,000
Wireline        
Basis of presentation        
Loss on impairment of goodwill   0 0 0
Goodwill   409,000,000 409,000,000 409,000,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   132,000,000 142,000,000 151,000,000
HMS        
Basis of presentation        
Goodwill       0
Cable        
Basis of presentation        
Loss on impairment of goodwill   0 0 0
Goodwill   138,000,000 100,000,000 100,000,000
Depreciation, amortization and accretion   $ 68,000,000 69,000,000 $ 44,000,000
U.S. Cellular        
Basis of presentation        
Asset groups | asset_group   1    
Franchise rights        
Basis of presentation        
Useful life   15 years    
Franchise rights | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period        
Basis of presentation        
Renewal period   10 years    
Useful life   15 years    
Impairment of intangible assets $ 0      
Depreciation, amortization and accretion     17,000,000  
Net income     $ (13,000,000)  
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share available to TDS common shareholders (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ (0.11)  
Licenses        
Basis of presentation        
Renewal period   12 years    
Licenses | U.S. Cellular        
Basis of presentation        
Impairment of intangible assets   $ 0 $ 0  
Minimum | Leasehold Improvements        
Basis of presentation        
Useful life   1 year    
Minimum | Licenses        
Basis of presentation        
Renewal period   10 years    
Maximum | Leasehold Improvements        
Basis of presentation        
Useful life   30 years    
Maximum | Licenses        
Basis of presentation        
Renewal period   15 years    
U.S. Cellular        
Basis of presentation        
TDS ownership of U.S. Cellular   82.00%