Fair Value Measurement (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]

The following table presents carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our exchangeable notes and embedded derivative as well as current and long-term debt:

	Carrying amount at June 30, 2013		Estimated Fair Value Using Input Type
			Quoted prices in active markets		Observable		Unobservable		Total estimated fair value
	(in millions)
Clearwire Exchangeable Notes	$	240	$	—	$	—	$	240	$	240
Current and long-term debt	$	23,445	$	16,488	$	4,775	$	4,046	$	25,309

	Carrying amount at December 31, 2012		Estimated Fair Value Using Input Type
			Quoted prices in active markets		Observable		Unobservable		Total estimated fair value
	(in millions)
Current and long-term debt	$	23,569	$	17,506	$	6,118	$	3,104	$	26,728

Starburst II, Inc. [Member]

Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]

Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes, for assets measured at fair value, the respective fair value and the classification within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

			Estimated Fair Value Using Input Type
	Carrying Value at June 30, 2013		Quoted Prices in Active Markets		Observable		Unobservable
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	11,461	$	11,461	$	—	$	—
Investment	3,101,000		—		—		3,101,000
Total assets measured at fair value	$	3,112,461	$	11,461	$	—	$	3,101,000
			Estimated Fair Value Using Input Type
	Carrying Value at December 31, 2012		Quoted Prices in Active Markets		Observable		Unobservable
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	5,000	$	5,000	$	—	$	—
Investment	2,929,000		—		—		2,929,000
Derivative	175,000		—		—		175,000
Total assets measured at fair value	$	3,109,000	$	5,000	$	—	$	3,104,000

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The following is a reconciliation of the estimated fair value of the Investment and Derivative for the six months ended June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

	Balances as of December 31, 2012		Net Purchases		Net Sales		Accretion of Bond Discount Recognized as Interest Income		Change in Value of Derivative			Appreciation Recognized through OCI		Transfers In (Out)		Balances as of June 30, 2013
Investment	$	2,929,000	$	—	$	—	$	11,900	$	—		$	160,100	$	—	$	3,101,000
Derivative	175,000		—		—		—		(175,000		)	—		—		—
Total	$	3,104,000	$	—	$	—	$	11,900	$	(175,000	)	$	160,100	$	—	$	3,101,000