Dispositions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Dispositions	Dispositions Level 3, through two 50% owned joint-venture surface mines, one each in Montana and Wyoming, sold coal primarily through long-term contracts with public utilities. In November 2011, Level 3 completed the sale of its coal mining business to Ambre Energy Limited as part of its long-term strategy to focus on core business operations. As a result of the transaction, all of the assets and liabilities associated with the coal mining business have been removed from Level 3's balance sheet and the Company recognized a gain on the transaction of approximately $72 million which was included in the consolidated statements of operations within "Income from Discontinued Operations" in the fourth quarter of 2011. Results for 2011 and 2010, exclusive of the gain on the transaction in 2011, were not significant. The financial results of the coal mining business were included in the Company's consolidated results of operations through the date of sale, and the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 have been revised to reflect the presentation within discontinued operations.

Dispositions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Level 3, through two 50% owned joint-venture surface mines, one each in Montana and Wyoming, sold coal primarily through long-term contracts with public utilities. In November 2011, Level 3 completed the sale of its coal mining business to Ambre Energy Limited as part of its long-term strategy to focus on core business operations. As a result of the transaction, all of the assets and liabilities associated with the coal mining business have been removed from Level 3's balance sheet and the Company recognized a gain on the transaction of approximately $72 million which was included in the consolidated statements of operations within "Income from Discontinued Operations" in the fourth quarter of 2011. Results for 2011 and 2010, exclusive of the gain on the transaction in 2011, were not significant. The financial results of the coal mining business were included in the Company's consolidated results of operations through the date of sale, and the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 have been revised to reflect the presentation within discontinued operations.