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Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 17,216 $ 16,682
Less: current maturities and short-term debt and other current obligations 96 107
Non-current portion of long-term debt and other long-term obligations 17,120 16,575
2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.222% due 2042 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 300  
2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 700  
2018 Tower Revenue Notes 3.720% due 2043 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 250  
2018 Tower Revenue Notes 4.241% due 2048 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 750  
Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations [1] 227 227
2016 Revolver [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount $ 3,600  
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt 2010 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase (Decrease) 5.00%  
Bank Debt [Member] | 2016 Revolver [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jan. 01, 2016  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jun. 01, 2023  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2],[3] 3.80%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 645 [4] 1,075
Bank Debt [Member] | 2016 Term Loan A [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jan. 01, 2016  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jun. 01, 2023  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2],[3] 3.80%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 2,339 2,354
Securitized Debt [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 3,272 3,283
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.222% due 2042 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date May 01, 2015  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [5] May 01, 2042  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.20%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 298 298
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date May 01, 2015  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [5] May 01, 2045  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.70%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 694 693
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2018 Tower Revenue Notes 3.720% due 2043 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jul. 01, 2018  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [5] Jul. 01, 2043  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.70%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 247 247
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2018 Tower Revenue Notes 4.241% due 2048 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jul. 01, 2018  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [5] Jul. 01, 2048  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.20%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 742 742
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes A-1 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jul. 01, 2009  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [4] Aug. 01, 2019  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 6.30%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 0 12
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes A-2 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jul. 01, 2009  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Aug. 01, 2029  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 9.00%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 70 70
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Notes [Domain]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 1,000  
Original issue date Feb. 01, 2019  
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.849% Secured Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Dec. 01, 2012  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Apr. 01, 2023  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.90%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 994 994
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 5.250% Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Oct. 01, 2012  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jan. 01, 2023  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 5.30%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 1,642 1,641
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.875% Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Apr. 01, 2014  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Apr. 01, 2022  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.90%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 844 844
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.40% [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Feb. 01, 2016  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Feb. 01, 2021  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.40%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 850 850
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Feb. 01, 2016  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Feb. 01, 2026  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.50%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 892 892
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.7% [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date May 01, 2016  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jun. 01, 2026  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.70%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 744 744
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2.250% Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Sep. 01, 2016  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Sep. 01, 2021  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 2.30%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 697 697
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.000% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Feb. 01, 2017  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Mar. 01, 2027  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.00%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 495 494
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.750% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date May 01, 2017  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date May 01, 2047  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.80%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 343 343
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2017 Senior Unsecured 3.200% Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Aug. 01, 2017  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Sep. 01, 2024  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.20%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 743 743
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2017 Senior Unsecured 3.650% Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Aug. 01, 2017  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Sep. 01, 2027  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.70%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 992 992
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.150% Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jan. 01, 2018  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Jul. 01, 2023  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.20%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 743 742
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.800% Senior Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Original issue date Jan. 01, 2018  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Feb. 01, 2028  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.80%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 989 988
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Unsecured 4.300% Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 600  
Original issue date Feb. 01, 2019  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [6] Feb. 01, 2029  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.30%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 591 0
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Unsecured 5.200% Notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 400  
Original issue date Feb. 01, 2019  
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date [6] Feb. 01, 2049  
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 5.20%  
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 395 0
Unsecured Debt [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations $ 13,944 $ 13,399
Maximum [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 10.00%  
Maximum [Member] | 2016 Revolver [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.75%  
Maximum [Member] | 2016 Revolver [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.35%  
Maximum [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range 30 years  
Minimum [Member] | 2016 Revolver [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.00%  
Minimum [Member] | 2016 Revolver [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.125%  
Minimum [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range one year  
[1] The Company's finance leases and other obligations relate to land, fiber, vehicles, and other assets and bear interest rates ranging up to 10% and mature in periods ranging from less than one year to approximately 30 years.
[2] See the 2018 10-K, including note 8, for additional information regarding the maturity and principal amortization provisions and interest rates relating to the Company's indebtedness.
[3] The 2016 Revolver and senior unsecured term loan A facility ("2016 Term Loan A") bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus a credit spread ranging from 1.000% to 1.750%, based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating. The Company pays a commitment fee ranging from 0.125% to 0.350%, based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating, per annum on the undrawn available amount under the 2016 Revolver.
[4] As of March 31, 2019, the undrawn availability under the 2016 Revolver was $3.6 billion.
[5] If the respective series of Tower Revenue Notes are not paid in full on or prior to an applicable anticipated repayment date, then Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the indenture) of the issuers of such notes will be used to repay principal of the applicable series and class of the Tower Revenue Notes, and additional interest (of an additional approximately 5% per annum) will accrue on the respective Tower Revenue Notes. As of March 31, 2019, the Tower Revenue Notes have principal amounts of $300 million, $250 million, $700 million and $750 million, with anticipated repayment dates in 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2028, respectively.
[6] In February 2019, the Company issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes ("February 2019 Senior Notes"), which consisted of (1) $600 million aggregate amount of 4.300% senior unsecured notes due February 2029 and (2) $400 million aggregate principle amount of 5.200% senior unsecured notes due February 2049.