Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Liabilities, Non Recurring (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes	Mar. 31, 2012 Senior Notes due 2019 (11.875%)	Mar. 31, 2012 Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 (6.5%)	Mar. 31, 2012 Not actively traded convertible notes	Mar. 31, 2012 Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (7.0%)	Mar. 31, 2012 Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 Series B (7.0%)	Mar. 31, 2012 Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 (15.0%)	Mar. 31, 2012 Term Loans	Mar. 31, 2012 Tranche A Term Loan	Mar. 31, 2012 Tranche B Term Loan	Mar. 31, 2012 Tranche B II Term Loan
Liabilities measured on a recurring basis
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 8,426	$ 8,450
Basis of interest rate on debt			LIBOR								LIBOR	LIBOR
Interest spread on debt, low end of range			2.25%
Interest spread on debt, high end of range			11.875%
Fair value of long-term debt											$ 1,400
Security coupon rates used for valuation, lowest interest rate						7.00%
Security coupon rates used for valuation, highest interest rate						15.00%
Debt instrument, stated interest rate (as a percent)				11.875%	6.50%		7.00%	7.00%	15.00%
Interest spread on debt											2.25%		4.25%
Basis floor													1.50%
Collateral for debt, Equity interest in Level 3 Financing, Inc's Canadian subsidiary (as a percent)										65.00%