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Pending Acquisition of Level 3 (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Business acquisition      
Outstanding long-term debt   $ 19,976 $ 19,993
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Scenario, Forecast      
Business acquisition      
Price per share of stock in business acquisition (per share) $ 26.50    
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Common Stock | Scenario, Forecast      
Business acquisition      
Stock issuable in business acquisition on a per share basis, Description 1.4286 of CenturyLink shares for each share of Level 3 common stock    
CenturyLink, Inc. | Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Scenario, Forecast      
Business acquisition      
Business acquisition, ownership control (in percent) 51.00%    
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Level 3 Communications, Inc.      
Business acquisition      
Outstanding long-term debt     $ 10,900
Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Level 3 Communications, Inc. | Scenario, Forecast      
Business acquisition      
Business acquisition, ownership control (in percent) 49.00%