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Commitments and Contingencies (Details)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 24 Months Ended
Oct. 14, 2011
plaintiff
Feb. 28, 2017
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
lawsuit
Dec. 31, 2007
USD ($)
Loss Contingencies                
Patents allegedly infringed (at least)             1  
Unfavorable regulatory action                
Loss Contingencies                
Estimate of possible loss (per proceeding)             $ 100,000  
William Douglas Fulghum, et al. v. Embarq Corporation                
Loss Contingencies                
Effect of modifications made to Embarq's benefits program (greater than)               $ 300,000,000
Abbott et al. v. Sprint Nextel et al.                
Loss Contingencies                
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff 1,500              
Judicial ruling | Missouri municipalities                
Loss Contingencies                
Number of cases, final court order   1            
Litigation settlement amount   $ 4,000,000            
CenturyLink, Inc. | Interexchange Carriers                
Loss Contingencies                
Number of lawsuits (approximately) | lawsuit             100  
Level 3 Parent, LLC                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, damages sought, value,             $ 50,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Loss from catastrophes                
Loss Contingencies                
Estimate of possible loss (per proceeding)             6,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Peruvian Tax Litigation                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, asserted claim             16,000,000  
Release of loss contingency accrual     $ 15,000,000 $ 11,000,000        
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Peruvian Tax Litigation, Before Interest                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, asserted claim             26,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Peruvian Tax Litigation, Income Taxwitholding 2001 and 2002                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, asserted claim             3,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Peruvian Tax Litigation, Vat for 2001 and 2002                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, asserted claim             7,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Peruvian Tax Litigation, Disallowance of VAT 2005                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, asserted claim             16,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Employee Severance and Contractor Termination Disputes                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, asserted claim             30,000,000  
Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Brazilian Tax Reserve Release | Brazilian Tax Claims                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency accrual, period increase (decrease)         $ 3,000,000 $ 6,000,000    
Loss contingency accrual, payments         $ 5,000,000      
Maximum | Loss from catastrophes                
Loss Contingencies                
Estimate of possible loss (per proceeding)             25,000,000  
Maximum | Level 3 Parent, LLC | Pending litigation | Brazilian Tax Claims                
Loss Contingencies                
Loss contingency, range of possible loss, portion not accrued             54,000,000  
Minimum | Loss from catastrophes                
Loss Contingencies                
Estimate of possible loss (per proceeding)             $ 20,000,000