Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	$ 932	$ 908	$ 1,861	$ 1,818
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Revenue	366	374	738	757
Depreciation and Amortization	207	223	411	448
Selling, General and Administrative	357	338	714	681
Restructuring Charges		1		1
Total Costs and Expenses	930	936	1,863	1,887
Operating (Loss) Income	2	(28)	(2)	(69)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense	(160)	(145)	(317)	(294)
Other, net	(20)	4	(37)	(43)
Total Other Expense	(180)	(141)	(354)	(337)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(178)	(169)	(356)	(406)
Income Tax Expense	(3)		(30)	(1)
Net Loss	(181)	(169)	(386)	(407)
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Costs and Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	1		1	1
Total Costs and Expenses	1		1	1
Operating (Loss) Income	(1)		(1)	(1)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense	(55)	(49)	(112)	(101)
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	211	201	421	398
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(336)	(325)	(673)	(709)
Other, net		4	(21)	6
Total Other Expense	(180)	(169)	(385)	(406)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(181)	(169)	(386)	(407)
Net Loss	(181)	(169)	(386)	(407)
Level 3 Financing, Inc..
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense	(99)	(94)	(197)	(188)
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	358	328	719	649
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(572)	(558)	(1,172)	(1,115)
Other, net	(23)	(1)	(23)	(55)
Total Other Expense	(336)	(325)	(673)	(709)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(336)	(325)	(673)	(709)
Net Loss	(336)	(325)	(673)	(709)
Level 3 Communications, LLC
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	576	501	1,136	990
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Revenue	224	197	436	396
Depreciation and Amortization	104	110	207	218
Selling, General and Administrative	306	294	613	588
Total Costs and Expenses	634	601	1,256	1,202
Operating (Loss) Income	(58)	(100)	(120)	(212)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense	(1)		(2)
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	(515)	(480)	(1,031)	(935)
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	36	43	78	87
Other, net	3	(6)	6	(6)
Total Other Expense	(477)	(443)	(949)	(854)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(535)	(543)	(1,069)	(1,066)
Income Tax Expense		(1)		(1)
Net Loss	(535)	(544)	(1,069)	(1,067)
Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	416	462	837	940
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Revenue	199	229	408	467
Depreciation and Amortization	103	113	204	230
Selling, General and Administrative	53	47	106	98
Restructuring Charges		1		1
Total Costs and Expenses	355	390	718	796
Operating (Loss) Income	61	72	119	144
Other Income (Expense):
Interest expense	(5)	(2)	(6)	(5)
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	(54)	(49)	(109)	(112)
Other, net		7	1	12
Total Other Expense	(59)	(44)	(114)	(105)
Loss Before Income Taxes	2	28	5	39
Income Tax Expense	(3)	1	(30)
Net Loss	(1)	29	(25)	39
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	(60)	(55)	(112)	(112)
Costs and Expenses:
Cost of Revenue	(57)	(52)	(106)	(106)
Selling, General and Administrative	(3)	(3)	(6)	(6)
Total Costs and Expenses	(60)	(55)	(112)	(112)
Other Income (Expense):
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	872	840	1,767	1,737
Total Other Expense	872	840	1,767	1,737
Loss Before Income Taxes	872	840	1,767	1,737
Net Loss	$ 872	$ 840	$ 1,767	$ 1,737