Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 973	$ 974	$ 1,939	$ 1,915
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $20 million and $21 million, respectively, for the three months, and $39 million, and $40 million, respectively, for the six months)	344	342	669	668
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	177	159	345	317
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	5	1	7	2
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	0	0	(2)	0
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	0	(11)	(2)	(17)
Total operating expenses	943	918	1,844	1,794
Operating income	30	56	95	121
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	40	40	84	78
Interest and dividend income	5	3	11	7
Interest expense	(29)	(29)	(58)	(58)
Other, net	0	0	(1)	(1)
Total investment and other income	16	14	36	26
Income before income taxes	46	70	131	147
Income tax expense	14	18	41	40
Net income	32	52	90	107
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	3	4	14
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 31	$ 49	$ 86	$ 93
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	87	86	87	85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.57	$ 0.99	$ 1.09
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	88	86	88	86
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.35	$ 0.56	$ 0.97	$ 1.08
Service
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 757	$ 741	$ 1,498	$ 1,465
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	193	187	369	365
Equipment sales
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	216	233	441	450
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	$ 224	$ 240	$ 458	$ 459