Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024		Dec. 31, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 23,414		$ 22,921
Less: current maturities of debt and other obligations		854		835
Non-current portion of long-term debt and other long-term obligations		22,560		22,086
2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		700
2018 Tower Revenue Notes 4.241% due 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 750
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt July 2018 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase (Decrease)		5.00%
Finance Lease Obligations and Other [Member] | Securitized Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations	[1]	$ 287		270
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2017 Senior Unsecured 3.200% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.20%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 750		749
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2020 Senior Unsecured 1.350% Notes [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	1.40%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 498		498
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.50%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 898		898
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.7% [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.70%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 748		748
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2021 Senior Unsecured 1.050% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	1.10%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 995		994
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.000% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.00%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 498		498
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2.900% Senior Unsecured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	2.90%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 744		744
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2017 Senior Unsecured 3.650% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.70%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 997		997
High Yield Bonds [Member] | January 2023 Senior Unsecured 5.000% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	5.00%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 992		991
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.800% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.80%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 995		995
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.800% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.80%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 594		594
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Unsecured 4.300% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.30%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 595		595
High Yield Bonds [Member] | December 2023 Senior Unsecured 5.600% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	5.60%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 741		740
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2019 Senior Unsecured 3.100% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.10%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 546		546
High Yield Bonds [Member] | April 2020 Senior Unsecured 3.300% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.30%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 741		741
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2020 Senior Unsecured 2.250% Notes [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	2.30%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 1,092		1,091
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2021 Senior Unsecured 2.100% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	2.10%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 991		990
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2021 Senior Unsecured 2.500% Notes [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	2.50%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 743		743
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 5.100% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	5.10%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 743		743
High Yield Bonds [Member] | December 2023 Senior Unsecured 5.800% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	5.80%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 742		740
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2021 Senior Unsecured 2.900% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	2.90%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 1,235		1,234
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.750% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.80%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 344		344
High Yield Bonds [Member] | February 2019 Senior Unsecured 5.200% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	5.20%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 396		396
High Yield Bonds [Member] | August 2019 Senior Unsecured 4.000% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.00%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 346		346
High Yield Bonds [Member] | April 2020 Senior Unsecured 4.150% Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.20%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 490		490
High Yield Bonds [Member] | June 2020 Senior Unsecured 3.250% Notes [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.30%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 890		890
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		21,644		21,167
Securitized Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 1,770		1,754
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes A-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	9.00%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 38		40
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	3.70%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations	[4]	$ 699		698
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2018 Tower Revenue Notes 4.241% due 2048 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	4.20%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations	[4]	$ 746		746
Bank Debt [Member] | 2016 Term Loan A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3],[5]	6.40%
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 1,162		1,162
Bank Debt [Member] | Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	[2],[3]	5.90%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.75%
Maximum [Member] | Finance Lease Obligations and Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		10.00%
Maximum [Member] | Finance Lease Obligations and Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range		25 years
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.00%
Minimum [Member] | Finance Lease Obligations and Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Maturity Date Range		one year
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		1.75%
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.875%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount		$ 7,000
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations		$ 0	[6]	670
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.30%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.08%
Commercial Paper [Member] | Bank Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt and Finance Lease Obligations	[7]	$ 1,138		$ 0
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description		397 days
Commercial Paper [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Bank Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date, Description		three months
Term SOFR Adjustment
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.10%

[1] The Company's finance leases and other obligations relate to land, fiber, vehicles, and other assets and bear interest rates up to 10% and mature in periods ranging from less than one year to approximately 25 years.

[2] Represents the weighted-average stated interest rate, as applicable.

[3] See the 2023 Form 10-K, including note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, for additional information regarding the maturity and principal amortization provisions and interest rates relating to the Company's indebtedness.

[4] If the Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2 and Series 2018-2 (collectively, "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 governing the terms of such notes) 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, 2024, the Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2015-2 and Series 2018-2 have principal amounts of $700 million and $750 million, with anticipated repayment dates in 2025 and 2028, respectively.

[5] Both the 2016 Revolver and the senior unsecured term loan A facility ("2016 Term Loan A" and, collectively, "2016 Credit Facility") bear interest, at the Company's option, at either (1) Term SOFR plus (i) a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% per annum and (ii) a credit spread ranging from 0.875% to 1.750% per annum or (2) an alternate base rate plus a credit spread ranging from 0.000% to 0.750% per annum, in each case, with the applicable credit spread based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating. The Company pays a commitment fee ranging from 0.080% to 0.300%, based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating, per annum on the undrawn available amount under the 2016 Revolver. See the 2023 Form 10-K, including note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, for information regarding potential adjustments to such percentages.

[6] As of March 31, 2024, the undrawn availability under the Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility ("2016 Revolver") was $7.0 billion.

[7] The maturities of the Commercial Paper Notes, when outstanding, may vary but may not exceed 397 days from the date of issue, but there were no Commercial Paper Notes issued or outstanding during the period that had original maturities greater than three months. The Commercial Paper Notes are issued under customary terms in the commercial paper market and are issued at a discount from par or, alternatively, can be issued at par and bear varying interest rates on a fixed or floating basis. At any point in time, the Company intends to maintain available commitments under its 2016 Revolver in an amount at least equal to the amount of Commercial Paper Notes outstanding. While any outstanding Commercial Paper Notes generally have short-term maturities, the Company classifies the outstanding issuances, when applicable, as long-term based on its ability and intent to refinance the outstanding issuances on a long-term basis.