Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment

Schedule of net property, plant and equipment

			December 31,
	Depreciable Lives
			2012			2011
			(Dollars in millions)
Land		N/A	$	579			590
Fiber, conduit and other outside plant(1)		15-45 years		13,030			12,415
Central office and other network electronics(2)		3-10 years		11,395			9,683
Support assets(3)		3-30 years		6,235			6,098
Construction in progress(4)		N/A		847			799
Gross property, plant and equipment				32,086			29,585
Accumulated depreciation				(13,054	)		(10,141	)
Net property, plant and equipment			$	19,032			19,444

(1)

Fiber, conduit and other outside plant consists of fiber and metallic cable, conduit, poles and other supporting structures.

(2)

Central office and other network electronics consists of circuit and packet switches, routers, transmission electronics and electronics providing service to customers.

(3)

Support assets consist of buildings, computers and other administrative and support equipment.

(4)

Construction in progress includes inventory held for construction and property of the aforementioned categories that has not been placed in service as it is still under construction.

Schedule of changes to asset retirement obligations

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(Dollars in millions)
Balance at beginning of year	$	109			41			39
Accretion expense		7			9			2
Liabilities incurred		1			—			—
Liabilities assumed in Qwest and Savvis acquisitions		—			124			—
Liabilities settled and other		(1	)		(3	)		—
Change in estimate		(10	)		(62	)		—
Balance at end of year	$	106			109			41