CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
OPERATING REVENUE	$ 19,687,000,000	$ 20,712,000,000	$ 21,458,000,000
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	8,488,000,000	8,934,000,000	9,134,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	2,895,000,000	3,464,000,000	3,715,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	4,019,000,000	4,710,000,000	4,829,000,000
Goodwill impairment	0	2,642,000,000	6,506,000,000
Total operating expenses	15,402,000,000	19,750,000,000	24,184,000,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	4,285,000,000	962,000,000	(2,726,000,000)
OTHER EXPENSE
Interest expense	(1,522,000,000)	(1,668,000,000)	(2,021,000,000)
Other expense, net	(62,000,000)	(76,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Total other expense, net	(1,584,000,000)	(1,744,000,000)	(2,040,000,000)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	2,701,000,000	(782,000,000)	(4,766,000,000)
Income tax expense	668,000,000	450,000,000	503,000,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$ 2,033,000,000	$ (1,232,000,000)	$ (5,269,000,000)
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ 1.92	$ (1.14)	$ (4.92)
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 1.91	$ (1.14)	$ (4.92)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
BASIC (in shares)	1,059,541	1,079,130	1,071,441
DILUTED (in shares)	1,066,778	1,079,130	1,071,441