2.2.0.25truefalse40201 - Disclosure - Events Associated with the CenturyLink Acquisition (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $As_Of_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConvertedus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse0.16640.1664falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe number of shares converted in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 32 falsefalseCommon stock converted from Qwest to CenturyLink per share3false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePriceus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1228200000012282falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalseTotal estimated aggregate consideration4false0us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShareus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse0.010.01falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse0.010.01falsetruefalsefalsefalseEPSus-types:perShareItemTypedecimalFace amount or stated value of common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 falsetrueCommon stock, par value5false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCostsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse30000003falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 59 falsefalseExpenses associated with CenturyLink Acquisition6false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityTransactionCostsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse3500000035falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of direct costs of the business combination including legal, accounting, and other costs incurred to consummate the business acquisition.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 24 falsefalseFinancial advisory fees7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.qwest.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureeventsassociatedwithcenturylinkacquisitionnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Cumulative [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_q_CumulativeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseCumulative [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_CumulativeMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCumulative [Member]8false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCostsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4200000042falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 59 falsefalseExpenses associated with CenturyLink Acquisition9false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.qwest.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureeventsassociatedwithcenturylinkacquisitionnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : CenturyLink [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_dei_LegalEntityAxis_q_CenturyLinkMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseCenturyLink [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_CenturyLinkMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit15Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCenturyLink [Member]10false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssuedus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse294000000294000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalseBusiness acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares11false0us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShareus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse41.5541.55falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseEPSus-types:perShareItemTypedecimalFace amount or stated value of common stock per share; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 4 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 falsetrueCommon stock, par value12false0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse6100000061falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock options, amortization of restricted stock, and adjustment for officers compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 falsefalseShare-based compensation13false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse50000005falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of cash paid to acquire the entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph f(1) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalseCash paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares212Events Associated with the CenturyLink Acquisition (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)MillionsNoRoundingNoRoundingUnKnowntruetrue