Severance and Leased Real Estate (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Employee severance
Restructuring reserve
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 14
Accrued to expense	25
Payments, net	(30)
Reversals and adjustments	0
Balance at the end of the period	9
Qwest Communications International Inc. \| Leased real estate
Leased Real Estate
Current portion of leased real estate accrual	8
Noncurrent portion of leased real estate accrual	$ 61
Weighted average lease terms	8 years
Restructuring reserve
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 80
Accrued to expense	3
Payments, net	(16)
Reversals and adjustments	2
Balance at the end of the period	$ 69
Qwest Communications International Inc. \| Leased real estate \| Minimum
Leased Real Estate
Remaining lease terms	1 month
Qwest Communications International Inc. \| Leased real estate \| Maximum
Leased Real Estate
Remaining lease terms	9 years 2 months

Represents the remaining lease term.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Weighted average term of remaining leases assumed in connection with an acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of cash payments made as the result of exit or disposal activities. Excludes payments associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
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Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition

Amount of expense (reversal of expense) which increases (decreases) the restructuring reserve from an adjustment to a previously accrued restructuring liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated obligations associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid in the next twelve months or in the normal operating cycle if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

+ References

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid after one year or beyond the next operating cycle, if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

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+ References

No definition available.

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