Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012 Correction of Immaterial Error	Jun. 30, 2012 Correction of Immaterial Error	Dec. 31, 2011 Correction of Immaterial Error	Sep. 30, 2013 KPNQwest
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Operating revenues	$ 4,542	$ 4,515	$ 4,525	$ 4,513	$ 4,583	$ 4,571	$ 4,612	$ 4,610	$ 18,095		$ 18,376		$ 15,351
Operating income (loss)	641	(685)	715	782	666	736	657	654	1,453		2,713		2,025
Net (loss) income	239	(1,045)	269	298	233	270	74	200	(239)		777		573
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ (1.76)	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.37	$ 0.43	$ 0.12	$ 0.32	$ (0.40)		$ 1.25		$ 1.07
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ (1.76)	$ 0.44	$ 0.48	$ 0.37	$ 0.43	$ 0.12	$ 0.32	$ (0.40)	[1]	$ 1.25	[1]	$ 1.07	[1]
Depreciation expense									(2,952)		(3,070)		(2,593)		45	(15)	(30)
Impairment	0	1,100							1,092		0		0
Litigation Tentative Settlement, Expense																		$ 233

[1] For the year ended December 31, 2013, we excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share 1.3 million shares potentially issuable under incentive compensation plans or convertible securities, as their effect, if included, would have been anti-dilutive.