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Debt - Credit Facilities, Non-Cash Transaction, Guarantees (Detail) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 27, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity	$ 17,000,000,000
Unused Capacity	10,391,000,000
Principal Amount Outstanding	5,059,000,000
Guarantee of Debentures of Operating Telephone Company Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount outstanding in connection with the guarantee of debt obligations	765,000,000
Guarantee of Debt Obligations of GTE Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount outstanding in connection with the guarantee of debt obligations	391,000,000
Network Equipment \| Vendor Financing Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Value of purchase assets financed	1,300,000,000	$ 356,000,000
Long-term debt maturing within one year	1,600,000,000			$ 1,100,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity	9,500,000,000
Unused Capacity	9,391,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Revolving Credit Facility Maturing 2024 \| Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity			$ 9,500,000,000
Equipment Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity	7,500,000,000
Unused Capacity	1,000,000,000
Principal Amount Outstanding	$ 5,059,000,000