Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 966	$ 942
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $20 million and $19 million, respectively)	326	326
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	169	159
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	2	1
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	(2)	0
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	(2)	(7)
Total operating expenses	902	877
Operating income	64	65
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	44	38
Interest and dividend income	6	4
Interest expense	(29)	(29)
Other, net	0	(1)
Total investment and other income	21	12
Income before income taxes	85	77
Income tax expense	27	22
Net income	58	55
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	4	10
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 54	$ 45
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	86	85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.63	$ 0.52
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	88	86
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.62	$ 0.52
Service
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 741	$ 724
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	176	179
Equipment sales
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	225	218
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	$ 233	$ 219