Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Other noncurrent liabilities	Dec. 31, 2011 Other noncurrent liabilities	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Expense	Mar. 31, 2011 Interest Expense	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest Rate Swap	Mar. 31, 2007 Level 3 Financing, Inc. derivatives	Mar. 31, 2007 Level 3 Financing, Inc. Interest Rate Swap, Agreement One	Mar. 31, 2007 Level 3 Financing, Inc. Interest Rate Swap, Agreement Two
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Derivatives	$ 1,000							$ 1,000	$ 500	$ 500
Basis of interest payment								LIBOR
Fixed interest rate paid under agreement (as a percent)									4.93%	4.92%
Interest Rate Derivatives
Interest rate swaps, Number of Instruments								2
Fair value, Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cash flow hedging contracts			83	90
Amount of gains (losses) recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss, Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cash flow hedging contracts	7	10
Amount of gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI to Income/Loss (effective portions), Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Cash flow hedging contracts - Interest Expense					(11)	(11)
Net losses on the interest rate swaps that will be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months							$ 44