Variable Interest Entities - Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 565		$ 465
Accounts receivable	958		1,005
Inventory, net	152		169
Other current assets	39		29
Licenses	2,630		2,480
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,615		3,527
Operating lease right-of-use assets	985		972
Other assets and deferred charges	586		607
Total assets	11,161	[1]	10,781	[1]	$ 10,795
Liabilities
Current liabilities	882		962
Long-term operating lease liabilities	938		931
Other deferred liabilities and credits	515		481
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	18		19
Accounts receivable	608		637
Inventory, net	3		5
Other current assets	19		7
Licenses	647		647
Property, plant and equipment, net	98		95
Operating lease right-of-use assets	42		42
Other assets and deferred charges	311		347
Total assets	1,746		1,799
Liabilities
Current liabilities	28		30
Long-term operating lease liabilities	38		39
Other deferred liabilities and credits	13		13
Total liabilities	$ 79		$ 82

[1] The consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $1,085 million and $915 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of TDS. The consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $19 million and $20 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of TDS. See Note 10 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.