Income Taxes - Operating Loss Carryforward (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Recognized Income Tax Benefit	$ 3,300				$ 100
percentage change in a cumulative ownership shift									50
percent of stockholders									5.00%
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	1,002				4,429				$ 1,002	$ 4,429
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(3,189)	$ 16	$ 18	$ 5	(103)	$ 8	$ 12	$ 7	(3,150)	(76)	$ 38
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									3,186	117	$ (9)
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Recognized Income Tax Benefit									3,300
Operating Loss Carryforwards	9,826								9,826
Operating Loss Carryforwards net of stock compensation excess benefit	9,700								9,700
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	1,000				$ 4,400				1,000	$ 4,400
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									3,100
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Operating Loss Expiring, 2022 [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	239								239
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2023
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	1,456								1,456
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2024
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	1,267								1,267
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2025
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	1,254								1,254
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2026
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	1,644								1,644
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2027
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	477								477
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2028
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	694								694
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2029
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	663								663
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2030
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	833								833
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2031
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	729								729
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2032
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	172								172
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Expiring, 2033
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	395								395
U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | Operating Loss Expiring, 2034 [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	3								3
Foreign jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforward, Disregarded for Domestic Country Tax Purposes	5,500								5,500
State jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	9,900								9,900
tw telecom [Member] | U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 1,000								$ 1,000