Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 963	$ 966
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative (including charges from affiliates of $19 million and $20 million, respectively)	335	326
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	177	169
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	4	2
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	0	(2)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	0	(2)
Total operating expenses	913	902
Operating income	50	64
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	45	44
Interest and dividend income	4	6
Interest expense	(24)	(29)
Other, net	1	0
Total investment and other income	26	21
Income before income taxes	76	85
Income tax expense	4	27
Net income	72	58
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	4
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 71	$ 54
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	86	86
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.82	$ 0.63
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	88	88
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.81	$ 0.62
Service
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 762	$ 741
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	180	176
Equipment sales
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	201	225
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	$ 217	$ 233