Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent events	Subsequent Events Colocation Transaction On November 3, 2016, we entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with a consortium led by BC Partners, Inc. and Medina Capital ("Purchaser") under which we propose to sell our data centers and colocation business for cash and equity valued at $2.3 billion, subject to offsets for the capital lease obligations described below and various working capital and other adjustments. The assets that will be sold and the liabilities to be assumed are currently included in our continuing operations. As part of the transaction, Purchaser will assume our capital lease obligations, which amounted to $320 million as of September 30, 2016, related to the properties that we will sell. The parties anticipate closing the transaction in the first quarter of 2017. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including filings under the Hart-Scott-Robino Antitrust Improvement Act and a review by the Committee of Foreign Investments in the United States, as well as other customary closing conditions. The transaction will result in Purchaser acquiring 57 data centers. This business generated revenues of $626 million, excluding revenue with affiliates, for us in 2015. We have not yet determined the final pre-tax gain or loss on the transaction as a result of various allocations, primarily attributable to intangibles and goodwill, required as part of carving these assets out of CenturyLink. However, it is possible that the transaction could result in a pre-tax loss that is material. Additionally, as a result of the final structure of the agreement, we are in the process of determining the total tax impact of the divestiture and related restructuring, which is likely to be material, but we are unable to currently estimate a reasonably accurate estimate of its impact. Level 3 Transaction On October 31, 2016, we entered into a definitive merger agreement under which we propose to acquire Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”) in a cash and stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3 shareholders will receive $26.50 per share in cash and a fixed exchange ratio of 1.4286 CenturyLink shares for each share of Level 3 common stock they own at closing. CenturyLink shareholders are expected to own 51% and Level 3 shareholders are expected to own 49% of the combined company at closing. On September 30, 2016, Level 3 had outstanding $10.9 billion of long-term debt. Completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, as well as approvals from the Federal Communications Commission and certain state regulatory approvals. The transaction is also subject to the approval of CenturyLink and Level 3 shareholders, as well as other customary closing conditions. Subject to these conditions, we anticipate closing this transaction by the end of the third quarter 2017. If the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, we may be obligated to pay Level 3 a termination fee of $472 million and Level 3 may be obligated to pay CenturyLink a termination fee of $738 million.

Subsequent Events

Colocation Transaction

On November 3, 2016, we entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement with a consortium led by BC Partners, Inc. and Medina Capital ("Purchaser") under which we propose to sell our data centers and colocation business for cash and equity valued at $2.3 billion, subject to offsets for the capital lease obligations described below and various working capital and other adjustments. The assets that will be sold and the liabilities to be assumed are currently included in our continuing operations. As part of the transaction, Purchaser will assume our capital lease obligations, which amounted to $320 million as of September 30, 2016, related to the properties that we will sell. The parties anticipate closing the transaction in the first quarter of 2017. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including filings under the Hart-Scott-Robino Antitrust Improvement Act and a review by the Committee of Foreign Investments in the United States, as well as other customary closing conditions.

The transaction will result in Purchaser acquiring 57 data centers. This business generated revenues of $626 million, excluding revenue with affiliates, for us in 2015. We have not yet determined the final pre-tax gain or loss on the transaction as a result of various allocations, primarily attributable to intangibles and goodwill, required as part of carving these assets out of CenturyLink. However, it is possible that the transaction could result in a pre-tax loss that is material. Additionally, as a result of the final structure of the agreement, we are in the process of determining the total tax impact of the divestiture and related restructuring, which is likely to be material, but we are unable to currently estimate a reasonably accurate estimate of its impact.

Level 3 Transaction

On October 31, 2016, we entered into a definitive merger agreement under which we propose to acquire Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”) in a cash and stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3 shareholders will receive $26.50 per share in cash and a fixed exchange ratio of 1.4286 CenturyLink shares for each share of Level 3 common stock they own at closing. CenturyLink shareholders are expected to own 51% and Level 3 shareholders are expected to own 49% of the combined company at closing. On September 30, 2016, Level 3 had outstanding $10.9 billion of long-term debt.

Completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, as well as approvals from the Federal Communications Commission and certain state regulatory approvals. The transaction is also subject to the approval of CenturyLink and Level 3 shareholders, as well as other customary closing conditions. Subject to these conditions, we anticipate closing this transaction by the end of the third quarter 2017. If the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, we may be obligated to pay Level 3 a termination fee of $472 million and Level 3 may be obligated to pay CenturyLink a termination fee of $738 million.