Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Capitalized Labor Costs	$ 299	$ 265	$ 238
Asset write-down charges	33	34	21
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount	2,100	2,300	2,600
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	631	668
Interest expense on debt obligations	836	685	644
Amortization of deferred financing costs and adjustments on long-term debt, net	29	26	25
Capitalized interest	(15)	(12)	(12)
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net	$ 850	699	657
Percentage of tax position that is likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement	50.00%
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 1,502	1,675	1,096
Portion of company site rental costs that are Towers ground lease expenses	half
Useful life of site rental contracts and customer relationships (years)	20 years
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	21.00%
Other current assets	$ 56	73
Revenue recognition for Wireless Tenants	five to 15 years
Accelerated prepaid rent amort	$ 59
Site rental revenue - remaining rental obligation	170
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Available to Common Shareholders, Basic	1,502	1,675	1,158
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	(62)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 1,502	$ 1,675	$ 1,096
Basic (in shares)	434	433	432
Diluted (in shares)	434	434	434
Income (loss) from continuing operations, basic	$ 3.46	$ 3.87	$ 2.68
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, basic	0	0	(0.14)
Basic (in dollars per share)	3.46	3.87	2.54
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	3.46	3.86	2.67
Diluted (in dollars per share)	3.46	3.86	2.53
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 6.26	$ 5.98	$ 5.46
Performance Obligations
Other current assets	$ 44	$ 43
Minimum [Member]
Revenue Recognition Non-cancelable Term - Fiber	one
Ground Lease Agreement Initial Term	five
Revenue Recognition Non-cancelable Lease Term	five
Service revenue payment terms	45
Maximum [Member]
Revenue Recognition Non-cancelable Term - Fiber	20
Ground Lease Agreement Initial Term	15
Revenue Recognition Non-cancelable Lease Term	15
Service revenue payment terms	90
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Effect of assumed dilution from potential common shares relating to stock options and restricted stock awards	0	1	2
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]
Asset write-down charges	$ 40	$ 39	$ 19
Communication Infrastructure [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	1 year
Communication Infrastructure [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	20 years