Intangible Assets (Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	$ 20,453,000,000	$ 20,336,000,000
Goodwill, beginning balance	359,000,000
Goodwill, ending balance	359,000,000	359,000,000
Indefnite lived intangible assets period increase decrease	117,000,000	411,000,000
Total indefinite lived intangible assets including FCC licenses Trademarks Goodwill	20,812,000,000	20,695,000,000		20,284,000,000
FCC Licenses [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	20,044,000,000	19,927,000,000		19,502,000,000
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, Period Increase (Decrease)	117,000,000	425,000,000
Trademarks [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	409,000,000	409,000,000		409,000,000
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	0
Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	359,000,000	373,000,000
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	(14,000,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending balance	$ 359,000,000	$ 359,000,000

[1] (1)The net reduction to goodwill of $14 million was a result of purchase price allocation adjustments recognized in the first quarter of 2010 associated with the 2009 acquisitions of Virgin Mobile and iPCS primarily related to deferred tax assets and liabilities.