Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Table)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]

Supplemental cash flow disclosures

Following are supplemental cash flow disclosures regarding interest paid and income taxes paid.

Year Ended December 31,	2016		2015		2014
(Dollars in millions)
Interest paid	$	113	$	81	$	55
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received		(11)		59		33

Stock-based compensation supplemental cash flows

Following are supplemental cash flow disclosures regarding transactions related to stock-based compensation awards.  In certain situations, U.S. Cellular withholds shares that are issuable upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted shares to cover, and with a value equivalent to, the exercise price and/or the amount of taxes required to be withheld from the stock award holder at the time of the exercise or vesting.  U.S. Cellular then pays the amount of the required tax withholdings to the taxing authorities in cash.

Year Ended December 31,	2016		2015		2014
(Dollars in millions)
Common Shares withheld		308,010		228,011		163,355
Aggregate value of Common Shares withheld	$	13	$	8	$	7
Cash receipts upon exercise of stock options		12		7		5
Cash disbursements for payment of taxes		(6)		(5)		(4)
Net cash receipts from exercise of stock
options and vesting of other stock awards	$	6	$	2	$	1