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Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items - Lawsuits (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Loss Contingencies      
Estimated Litigation Liability   $ 171us-gaap_LitigationReserve  
Peruvian Tax Litigation | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim   55lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease) 28us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
   
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Before Interest | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim   26lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationBeforeInterestMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Income Taxwitholding 2001 and 2002 | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim   3lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationIncomeTaxwitholding2001And2002Member
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Disallowance of VAT in 2005 | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim   16lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationDisallowanceOfVatIn2005Member
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Vat for 2001 and 2002 | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim   7lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_PeruvianTaxLitigationVatFor2001And2002Member
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Employee Severance and Contractor Termination Disputes | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim   44lvlt_LossContingencyAssertedClaim
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_EmployeeSeveranceAndContractorTerminationDisputesMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Maximum | Brazilian Tax Claims | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Portion Not Accrued   57us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossPortionNotAccrued
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxClaimsMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Brazilian Tax Reserve Release [Member] | Brazilian Tax Claims | Pending Litigation      
Loss Contingencies      
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)   3us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxClaimsMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
/ lvlt_ReserveReleaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxReserveReleaseMember
6us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxClaimsMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
/ lvlt_ReserveReleaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxReserveReleaseMember
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments   $ 5us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
/ lvlt_LitigationByCaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxClaimsMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
/ lvlt_ReserveReleaseAxis
= lvlt_BrazilianTaxReserveReleaseMember