CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	COMMON STOCK	ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	RETAINED EARNINGS
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 305	$ 6,181	$ (141)	$ 3,302
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		305,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock to acquire Qwest, including shares issued in connection with share-based compensation awards		294	11,974
Issuance of common stock to acquire Qwest, including shares issued in connection with share-based compensation awards (in shares)		294,000,000
Issuance of common stock to acquire Savvis, including shares issued in connection with share-based compensation awards		14	603
Issuance of common stock to acquire Savvis, including shares issued in connection with share-based compensation awards (in shares)		14,000,000
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans		5	74
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans (in shares)		5,000,000
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings		(1)	(30)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings (in shares)		(1,000,000)
Share-based compensation and other, net			56
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(17)			(17)
Net income	464				464
Dividends declared					(1,105)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	21,978	617	18,858	(158)	2,661
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011		617,000,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	20,827	619	18,901	(1,012)	2,319
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	618,514,000	619,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans		5	86
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans (in shares)		5,000,000
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings		(1)	(17)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings (in shares)		(1,000,000)
Share-based compensation and other, net			82
Other comprehensive income (loss)	28			28
Net income	544				544
Dividends declared					(1,357)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 20,197	$ 623	$ 19,052	$ (984)	$ 1,506
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	623,144,000	623,000,000