Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 1,001	$ 963	$ 2,916	$ 2,862
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $20 million and $20 million, respectively, for the three months, and $60 million and $62 million, respectively, for the nine months)	346	350	1,014	1,041
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	160	153	478	460
Loss on impairment of goodwill	0	370	0	370
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	3	5	5	14
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	0	(1)	0	(1)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	0	0	(18)	(19)
Total operating expenses	967	1,323	2,761	3,163
Operating income (loss)	34	(360)	155	(301)
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	42	35	120	101
Interest and dividend income	4	2	10	6
Interest expense	(29)	(28)	(87)	(85)
Other, net	0	0	0	1
Total investment and other income	17	9	43	23
Income (loss) before income taxes	51	(351)	198	(278)
Income tax expense (benefit)	14	(53)	55	(19)
Net income (loss)	37	(298)	143	(259)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	1	14	2
Net income (loss) attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 36	$ (299)	$ 129	$ (261)
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	86	85	85	85
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ (3.51)	$ 1.51	$ (3.07)
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	87	85	86	85
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.41	$ (3.51)	$ 1.49	$ (3.07)
Service
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 759	$ 737	$ 2,224	$ 2,223
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	200	185	566	549
Equipment sales
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	242	226	692	639
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	$ 258	$ 261	$ 716	$ 749