Severance, Exit Costs and Asset Impairments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Lease [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Lease [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Lease [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Access [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Access [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Access [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Wireless [Member] Access [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Wireless [Member] Access [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Wireline [Member] Access [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Wireline [Member] Access [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Asset under Construction [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Capitalized assets specific to the spectrum hosting [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Minimum [Member] Lease [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Maximum [Member] Lease [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost																$ 300	$ 400
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve	291		79	236	236	58	38	38	0
Supplemental Unemployment Benefits, Severance Benefits	17		21
Restructuring Charges	245			22	206		12	39		8	21	4	18
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	33
Severance Costs	0
Restructuring reserved settled with cash and other adjustments					(28)			(1)
Payments for Postemployment Benefits	(4)
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 84	$ 0												$ 18	$ 66