Property Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Land and rights-of-way	$ 49.7	$ 30.9
Buildings and leasehold improvements	895.9	736.2
Office software, furniture, fixtures and vehicles	133.8	129.3
Network equipment	2,858.4	2,701.3
Construction in process	78.6	78.3
Gross value	4,016.4	3,676.0
Accumulated depreciation	(2,429.0)	(2,275.5)
Net Book Value	1,587.4	1,400.5
Impairment of assets, excluding goodwill	(14.2)	(2.1)	0
Depreciation	198.8	180.4	167.9
Depreciation associated with cost of providing services	87.00%	84.00%	82.00%
Capitalized Leased and Other Financing Arrangements Assets, Gross	244.1	222.7
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	20 years
Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum in Practice	22
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum in Practice	9
Data Center Colocation [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of assets, excluding goodwill	11.8
Wireless [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of assets, excluding goodwill	0.4	1.1
Wireline [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Impairment of assets, excluding goodwill	$ 0.5	$ 1.0
Maximum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	50 years
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	50 years
Maximum [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	14 years
Minimum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years