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Revenues and Contract Costs - Revenue by Category (Details) $ in Billions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment		2
Revenues from leasing arrangements, captive reinsurance arrangements and interest on equipment financed	$ 1.1	$ 2.3
Percentage of retail postpaid connections with fixed-term service plans	17.00%	17.00%	19.00%
Contract assets impairment charge		$ (0.1)
Amortization of deferred contract costs	$ 0.5	0.9
Media Business
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	1.9	3.8
Telematics Business Branded Verizon Connect
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 0.2	$ 0.5
Consumer Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of service plans with contract plan greater than one year	33.33%	33.33%
Customer Contracts that Have Contract Minimum over Total Contract Term
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue, remaining performance obligation	$ 3.9	$ 3.9
Wireless
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of month-to-month contracts of total service contracts	83.00%	83.00%
Wireline
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Percentage of month-to-month contracts of total service contracts	56.00%	56.00%