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Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jan. 31, 2013
Jan. 03, 2013
Intangible assets            
Impairment of goodwill $ 1,100us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 1,092us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss    
Goodwill   20,755us-gaap_Goodwill 20,674us-gaap_Goodwill   21,627us-gaap_Goodwill 21,627us-gaap_Goodwill
Indefinite-life intangible assets   268us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill 321us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill      
Other intangible assets, net   1,647us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsNet 1,802us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsNet      
Amortization of intangible assets   1,470us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 1,589us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets 1,710us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets    
Customer relationships            
Intangible assets            
Finite lived intangible assets, net   4,893us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
5,935us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
     
Accumulated amortization   4,683us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
3,641us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
     
Capitalized software            
Intangible assets            
Finite lived intangible assets, net   1,338us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
1,415us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
     
Accumulated amortization   1,533us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
1,193us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
     
Tradenames and patents            
Intangible assets            
Finite lived intangible assets, net   41us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ctl_TradeNamesAndPatentsMember
66us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ctl_TradeNamesAndPatentsMember
     
Accumulated amortization   $ 196us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ctl_TradeNamesAndPatentsMember
$ 208us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ctl_TradeNamesAndPatentsMember