Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 677	$ 3,433	$ 314
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,250	1,166	808
Loss on impairment	0	0	18
Non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards	156	141	73
Loss on modification and extinguishment of debt	40	218	53
Venezuela deconsolidation charge	0	171	0
Accretion of debt discount and amortization of debt issuance costs	21	24	36
Accrued interest on long-term debt, net	21	(57)	12
Non-cash tax adjustments	0	0	(7)
Deferred income taxes	123	(3,202)	(116)
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	(2)	1	(3)
Other, net	(10)	35	(8)
Changes in working capital items:
Receivables	31	(87)	9
Other current assets	(36)	(11)	2
Payables	83	4	(77)
Deferred revenue	18	88	6
Other current liabilities	(29)	(69)	41
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	2,343	1,855	1,161
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,334)	(1,229)	(910)
Cash related to deconsolidated Venezuela operations	0	(83)	0
Change in restricted cash and securities, net	12	(22)	(10)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	3	4	3
Investment in tw telecom, net of cash acquired	0	0	(167)
Other	0	(14)	(2)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(1,319)	(1,344)	(1,086)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	764	4,832	589
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt and capital leases	(820)	(5,051)	(671)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(56)	(219)	(82)
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3)	(18)	(44)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	965	274	(51)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	854	580	631
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	1,819	854	580
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash interest paid	508	668	598
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	35	50	44
Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Capital lease obligations incurred	1	6	2
Long-term debt conversion into equity	0	333	142
Accrued interest conversion into equity	0	10	2
Long-term debt issued and proceeds placed in escrow	0	0	3,000
Escrowed securities used in the acquisition of tw telecom	$ 0	$ 0	$ 3,014