Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Operating revenues
Service	$ 771	$ 896	$ 2,293	$ 2,549
Equipment sales	239	173	655	461
Total operating revenues	1,010	1,069	2,948	3,010
Operating expenses
System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below)	196	199	572	586
Cost of equipment sold	280	287	799	779
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $21 million and $22 million, respectively, for the three months, and $69 million and $66 million, respectively, for the nine months)	370	375	1,089	1,107
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	155	152	462	450
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	7	3	16	12
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net		(1)		(114)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(7)	(24)	(16)	(147)
Total operating expenses	1,001	991	2,922	2,673
Operating income	9	78	26	337
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	38	40	110	110
Interest and dividend income	14	9	41	26
Interest expense	(28)	(21)	(84)	(61)
Other, net				(1)
Total investment and other income	24	28	67	74
Income before income taxes	33	106	93	411
Income tax expense	15	41	39	161
Net income	18	65	54	250
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	1	1	7
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 17	$ 64	$ 53	$ 243
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	85	84	85	84
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.89
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	85	85	85	85
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 2.86