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Additional Financial Information (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) employee	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2023 employee
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Debt maturing within one year	$ 6,929
Percentage of employees represented by CWA, IBEW, or other unions	42.00%
Subsequent Event
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Approximate number of persons employed at a point in time \| employee				160,700
Contract Covering Employees in 9 States \| Communications \| Mobility
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Number of employees under contracts where union may call a work stoppage \| employee	7,000
Nationwide Corporate Employees \| Communications \| Wireline
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Number of employees under contracts where union may call a work stoppage \| employee	400
Contract Covering Employees In Illinois \| Communications \| Mobility
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Number of employees under contracts where union may call a work stoppage \| employee	200
Vendor Financing Program
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Noncash investing activities	$ 5,817	$ 5,282	$ 4,664
Vendor financing payables	6,147
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities \| Vendor Financing Program
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Debt maturing within one year	$ 4,592
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities \| Vendor Financing Program \| Minimum
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayment Terms	one year
Other Noncurrent Liabilities \| Vendor Financing Program
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Debt maturing within five years	$ 1,555
Other Noncurrent Liabilities \| Vendor Financing Program \| Maximum
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayment Terms	five years