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) INCOME	RETAINED EARNINGS
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009		$ 299	$ 6,020	$ (85)	$ 3,233
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		299,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans		6	124
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans (in shares)		6,000,000
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings			(16)
Share-based compensation and other, net			53
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(56)			(56)
Net income	948				948
Dividends declared					(879)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	9,647	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	601
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		6	97
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans (in shares)		6,000,000
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings			(30)
Share-based compensation and other, net			78
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(871)			(871)
Net income	573				573
Dividends declared					(1,556)
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		8	102
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans (in shares)		8,000,000
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings		(1)	(34)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings (in shares)		(1,000,000)
Share-based compensation and other, net			110
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(689)			(689)
Net income	777				777
Dividends declared					(1,811)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 19,289	$ 626	$ 19,079	$ (1,701)	$ 1,285
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	625,658,000	626,000,000