Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

	Predecessor
	December 31, 2012		Net Additions		July 10, 2013
	(in millions)
FCC licenses	$	20,268	$	12,580	$	32,848
Trademarks	409		—		409
Goodwill	359		715		1,074
	$	21,036	$	13,295	$	34,331

	Successor
	July 11, 2013		Net Additions				December 31, 2013
	(in millions)
FCC licenses	$	35,723	$	166	(1	)	$	35,889
Trademarks	5,935		—				5,935
Goodwill	6,434		—				6,434
	$	48,092	$	166			$	48,258

Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization

		Successor							Predecessor
		December 31, 2013							December 31, 2012
	Useful Lives	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
							(in millions)
Customer relationships	4 to 8 years	$	6,923	$	(875	)	$	6,048	$	234	$	(230	)	$	4
Other intangible assets
Favorable spectrum leases	23 years	884		(20		)	864		—		—			—
Favorable tower leases	3 to 7 years	589		(52		)	537		—		—			—
Trademarks	34 years	520		(8		)	512		1,168		(681		)	487
Reacquired rights	9 to 14 years	—		—			—		1,571		(785		)	786
Other	4 to 10 years	58		(5		)	53		138		(80		)	58
Total other intangible assets		2,051		(85		)	1,966		2,877		(1,546		)	1,331
Total definite-lived intangible assets		$	8,974	$	(960	)	$	8,014	$	3,111	$	(1,776	)	$	1,335

Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
	(in millions)
Estimated amortization expense	$	1,737	$	1,488	$	1,231	$	946	$	715