Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 418	$ 285
Accounts receivable
Customers and agents, less allowances of $69 and $70, respectively		874	919
Roaming		23	27
Affiliated		1	1
Other, less allowances of $2 and $1, respectively		56	63
Inventory, net		145	162
Prepaid expenses		50	50
Income taxes receivable		122	46
Other current assets		29	20
Total current assets		1,718	1,573
Licenses		2,621	2,471
Investments in unconsolidated entities		445	447
Property, plant and equipment
In service and under construction		8,481	8,293
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization		6,223	6,086
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,258	2,207
Operating lease right-of-use assets		914	900
Other assets and deferred charges		544	566
Total assets	[1]	8,500	8,164
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt		4	8
Accounts payable
Affiliated		9	8
Trade		285	296
Customer deposits and deferred revenues		139	148
Accrued taxes		30	30
Accrued compensation		53	76
Short-term operating lease liabilities		112	105
Other current liabilities		65	79
Total current liabilities		697	750
Deferred liabilities and credits
Deferred income tax liability, net		613	507
Long-term operating lease liabilities		874	865
Other deferred liabilities and credits		346	319
Long-term debt, net		1,625	1,502
Commitments and contingencies
Noncontrolling interests with redemption features		11	11
U.S. Cellular shareholders’ equity
Series A Common and Common Shares Authorized 190 shares (50 Series A Common and 140 Common Shares) Issued 88 shares (33 Series A Common and 55 Common Shares) Outstanding 86 shares (33 Series A Common and 53 Common Shares) Par Value ($1.00 per share) ($33 Series A Common and $55 Common Shares)		88	88
Additional paid-in capital		1,646	1,629
Treasury shares, at cost, 2 Common Shares		(70)	(70)
Retained earnings		2,657	2,550
Total U.S. Cellular shareholders' equity		4,321	4,197
Noncontrolling interests		13	13
Total equity		4,334	4,210
Total liabilities and equity	[1]	$ 8,500	$ 8,164

[1] The consolidated total assets as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, include assets held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) of $1,101 million and $930 million, respectively, which are not available to be used to settle the obligations of U.S. Cellular. The consolidated total liabilities as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, include certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs of $21 million and $22 million, respectively, for which the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the general credit of U.S. Cellular. See Note 10 — Variable Interest Entities for additional information.