Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Operating revenues
Service	$ 762	$ 824	$ 1,521	$ 1,653
Equipment sales	218	152	417	288
Total operating revenues	980	976	1,938	1,941
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	193	196	376	387
Cost of equipment sold	262	254	518	492
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $23 million and $24 million, respectively, for the three months, and $48 million and $44 million, respectively, for the six months)	357	364	719	731
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	154	151	307	298
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	5	5	10	10
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		(2)		(113)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(9)		(9)	(123)
Total operating expenses	962	968	1,921	1,682
Operating income	18	8	17	259
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	37	36	72	70
Interest and dividend income	14	9	27	17
Interest expense	(28)	(20)	(56)	(40)
Other, net	(1)
Total investment and other income	22	25	43	47
Income before income taxes	40	33	60	306
Income tax expense	13	13	23	121
Net income	27	20	37	185
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax		1	1	6
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 27	$ 19	$ 36	$ 179
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	85	84	85	84
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.32	$ 0.23	$ 0.43	$ 2.13
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	85	85	85	85
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.32	$ 0.23	$ 0.43	$ 2.11