Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 1,031	$ 1,001	$ 2,970	$ 2,916
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $22 million and $20 million, respectively, for the three months, and $61 million, and $60 million, respectively, for the nine months)	358	346	1,027	1,014
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	181	160	524	478
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	5	3	13	5
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	0	0	(1)	0
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	2	0	0	(18)
Total operating expenses	1,011	967	2,855	2,761
Operating income	20	34	115	155
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	44	42	128	120
Interest and dividend income	4	4	14	10
Interest expense	(29)	(29)	(87)	(87)
Total investment and other income	19	17	55	43
Income before income taxes	39	51	170	198
Income tax expense	15	14	55	55
Net income	24	37	115	143
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	1	6	14
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 23	$ 36	$ 109	$ 129
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	86	86	87	85
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.42	$ 1.26	$ 1.51
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	88	87	88	86
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.41	$ 1.24	$ 1.49
Service
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 774	$ 759	$ 2,272	$ 2,224
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	199	200	568	566
Equipment sales
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	257	242	698	692
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	$ 266	$ 258	$ 724	$ 716