Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Operating revenues
Service	$ 760	$ 828
Equipment sales	198	137
Total operating revenues	958	965
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	184	191
Cost of equipment sold	256	238
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $25 and $22, respectively)	361	369
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	153	147
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	5	4
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		(111)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net		(123)
Total operating expenses	959	715
Operating income (loss)	(1)	250
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	35	34
Interest and dividend income	13	8
Interest expense	(28)	(20)
Other, net	1
Total investment and other income	21	22
Income before income taxes	20	272
Income tax expense	11	107
Net income	9	165
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax		5
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 9	$ 160
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	84	84
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.10	$ 1.90
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	85	85
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.10	$ 1.89