2.2.0.25truefalse41103 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Schedule of Revenue from Products and Services) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 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$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentRevenueus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse27530000002753falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse28670000002867falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenues for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseTotal segment revenues3false0us-gaap_OtherIncomeus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse9300000093falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse9900000099falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the sum of all other revenue and income recognized by the entity in the period not otherwise specified in the income statement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 4 -Article 7 falsefalseOther revenues (primarily USF surcharges)4false0us-gaap_Revenuesus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse28460000002846falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse29660000002966falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 truefalseTotal operating revenues5false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.qwest.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationscheduleofrevenuefromproductsandservicesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Strategic Services [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_StrategicMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseStrategic Services [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_StrategicMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Strategic Services [Member] 1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_StrategicMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseStrategic Services [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_StrategicMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseStrategic Services [Member]6false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentRevenueus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse11710000001171[1]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse11010000001101[1]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenues for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseTotal segment revenues7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.qwest.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationscheduleofrevenuefromproductsandservicesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Legacy Services [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_LegacyMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseLegacy Services [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_LegacyMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Legacy Services [Member] 1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_LegacyMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseLegacy Services [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_LegacyMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLegacy Services [Member]8false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentRevenueus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse14600000001460[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse16310000001631[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenues for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseTotal segment revenues9false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.qwest.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationscheduleofrevenuefromproductsandservicesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Strategic and Legacy Services [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_StrategicAndLegacyServicesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseStrategic and Legacy Services [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_StrategicAndLegacyServicesMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Strategic and Legacy Services [Member] 1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_StrategicAndLegacyServicesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseStrategic and Legacy Services [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_StrategicAndLegacyServicesMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseStrategic and Legacy Services [Member]10false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentRevenueus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse26310000002631falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse27320000002732falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenues for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseTotal segment revenues11false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.qwest.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresegmentinformationscheduleofrevenuefromproductsandservicesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Data Integration [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_DataIntegrationMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseData Integration [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_DataIntegrationMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$10falsefalseUSDtruefalse{q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis} : Data Integration [Member] 1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxis_q_DataIntegrationMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001037949duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseData Integration [Member]q_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiq_DataIntegrationMemberq_SegmentInformationByServicesAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseData Integration [Member]12false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingSegmentRevenueus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse122000000122[3]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse135000000135[3]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal revenues for reportable segments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 131 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a falsefalseTotal segment revenues1 Our strategic services include primarily private line, broadband, Qwest iQ Networking®, hosting, video (including DIRECTV), Verizon Wireless services and Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP"). 2Our legacy services include primarily local, long-distance, access, traditional wide area network ("WAN") and integrated services digital network ("ISDN") services. A WAN typically extends a local area network outside the building, over telephone common carrier lines to link to other local area networks in remote locations, such as branch offices or at-home workers and telecommuters. ISDN is a telecommunications standard that uses digital transmission technology to support voice, video and data communications applications over regular telephone lines. 3Data integration is telecommunications equipment we sell that is located on customers' premises and related professional services. These services include network management, installation and maintenance of data equipment and building of proprietary fiber-optic broadband networks for our government and business customers.211Segment Information (Schedule of Revenue from Products and Services) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue