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Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets (Details 3) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jan. 31, 2013
Jan. 03, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]            
Goodwill   $ 20,755us-gaap_Goodwill $ 20,674us-gaap_Goodwill   $ 21,627us-gaap_Goodwill $ 21,627us-gaap_Goodwill
Discount rate (percent)   6.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate        
Fair value inputs after tax cost of debt rate (percent)   2.90%ctl_FairValueInputsaftertaxCostofDebtRate        
Fair value inputs cost of equity rate (percent)   8.20%ctl_FairValueInputsCostOfEquityRate        
Percentage of reasonable implied control premium (percent)   4.30%ctl_PercentageOfReasonableImpliedControlPremium        
Impairment of goodwill 1,100us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss 1,092us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss    
Business            
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]            
Goodwill   10,477us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_BusinessMember
6,363us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_BusinessMember
    6,363us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_BusinessMember
Impairment of goodwill     0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_BusinessMember
     
Consumer            
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]            
Goodwill   10,278us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_ConsumerMember
10,348us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_ConsumerMember
    10,348us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_ConsumerMember
Impairment of goodwill     0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_ConsumerMember
     
Wholesale            
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]            
Goodwill   0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_WholesaleMember
3,274us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_WholesaleMember
    3,274us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_WholesaleMember
Impairment of goodwill     0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_WholesaleMember
     
Hosting            
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]            
Goodwill   0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember
689us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember
    1,642us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember
Discount rate (percent)   11.00%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember
       
Fair value inputs after tax cost of debt rate (percent)   2.90%ctl_FairValueInputsaftertaxCostofDebtRate
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember
       
Fair value inputs cost of equity rate (percent)   12.40%ctl_FairValueInputsCostOfEquityRate
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember
       
Impairment of goodwill     $ 1,092us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= ctl_HostingMember