Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 772	$ 715
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $40 and $45, respectively		606	608
Roaming		18	20
Affiliated		1
Other, less allowances of $1 and $1, respectively		41	44
Inventory, net		151	149
Prepaid expenses		96	81
Other current assets		23	55
Total current assets		1,708	1,672
Assets held for sale		26
Licenses		1,808	1,834
Goodwill		370	370
Investments in unconsolidated entities		384	363
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		7,693	7,669
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		5,120	5,020
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,573	2,649
Other assets and deferred charges		188	172
Total assets	[1]	7,057	7,060
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		11	11
Accounts payable
Affiliated		10	10
Trade		295	275
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		245	251
Accrued taxes		24	28
Accrued compensation		41	68
Other current liabilities		97	105
Total current liabilities		723	748
Deferred liabilities and credits
Net deferred income tax liability		825	821
Other deferred liabilities and credits		297	290
Long-term debt, net		$ 1,626	$ 1,629
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features		$ 2	$ 1
U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity
Series A Common and Common Shares		88	88
Additional paid-in capital		1,501	1,497
Treasury Shares, at cost		(155)	(157)
Retained earnings		2,140	2,133
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		3,574	3,561
Noncontrolling interests		10	10
Total equity		3,584	3,571
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 7,057	$ 7,060

[1] The consolidated total assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain assets held by consolidated VIEs of $828 million and $658 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of U.S. Cellular. The consolidated total liabilities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $19 million and $1 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular. See Note 8 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.