Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 973	$ 973	$ 1,937	$ 1,939
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative	323	344	659	669
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	178	177	354	345
(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net	4	5	8	7
(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net	0	0	0	(2)
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net	0	0	0	(2)
Total operating expenses	920	943	1,833	1,844
Operating income	53	30	104	95
Investment and other income (expense)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	44	40	89	84
Interest and dividend income	1	5	5	11
Interest expense	(25)	(29)	(49)	(58)
Other, net	0	0	0	(1)
Total investment and other income	20	16	45	36
Income before income taxes	73	46	149	131
Income tax expense	4	14	8	41
Net income	69	32	141	90
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	1	1	2	4
Net income attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders	$ 68	$ 31	$ 139	$ 86
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	86	87	86	87
Basic earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.79	$ 0.36	$ 1.62	$ 0.99
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	87	88	87	88
Diluted earnings per share attributable to U.S. Cellular shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.35	$ 1.59	$ 0.97
Service
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 753	$ 757	$ 1,515	$ 1,498
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	197	193	377	369
Equipment sales
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues	220	216	422	441
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold	$ 218	$ 224	$ 435	$ 458