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Employee Benefits (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Schedule of estimated future benefit payments The estimated benefit payments provided below are based on actuarial assumptions using the demographics of the employee and retiree populations and have been reduced by estimated participant contributions.
Combined Pension PlanPost-Retirement
Benefit Plans		Medicare Part D
Subsidy Receipts
 (Dollars in millions)
Estimated future benefit payments:   
2024$574 195 (2)
2025493 191 (2)
2026475 186 (2)
2027458 181 (2)
2028440 174 (2)
2029 - 20331,974 762 (6)
Schedule of actuarial assumptions used to compute net periodic benefit expense
The actuarial assumptions used to compute the net periodic benefit expense for our Combined Pension Plan and post-retirement benefit plans are based upon information available as of the beginning of the year, as presented in the following table.
 Combined Pension PlanPost-Retirement Benefit Plans
 202320222021202320222021
Actuarial assumptions at beginning of year:      
Discount rate
5.45% - 5.69%
2.29% - 3.12%
1.70% - 2.88%
5.43% - 5.75%
2.19% - 5.78%
1.58% - 2.60%
Rate of compensation increase3.25 %3.25 %3.25 %N/AN/AN/A
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets(1)
6.50 %5.50 %5.50 %3.00 %4.00 %4.00 %
Initial health care cost trend rateN/AN/AN/A
7.20% / 5.00%
5.00% / 5.75%
6.25% / 5.00%
Ultimate health care cost trend rateN/AN/AN/A4.50 %4.50 %4.50 %
Year ultimate trend rate is reachedN/AN/AN/A203020252025
_______________________________________________________________________________
N/A - Not applicable
(1)Rates are presented net of projected fees and administrative costs.
Schedule of components of net periodic pension expense (income) and post-retirement benefit expense Net periodic benefit expense (income) for our Combined Pension Plan and the Lumen Pension Plan (through October 3, 2022, together the "Pension Plans") includes the following components:
 Pension Plans
Years Ended December 31,
 202320222021
 (Dollars in millions)
Service cost$25 44 56 
Interest cost270 194 201 
Expected return on plan assets(287)(385)(535)
Settlement charges— — 383 
Realized to gain on sale of businesses— 546 — 
Special termination benefits charge2 — 6 
Recognition of prior service credit(7)(10)(9)
Recognition of actuarial loss104 122 184 
Net periodic pension expense$107 511 286 
Net periodic benefit expense for our post-retirement benefit plans includes the following components:
 Post-Retirement Plans
Years Ended December 31,
 202320222021
 (Dollars in millions)
Service cost$5 10 14 
Interest cost103 72 47 
Realized to gain on sale of businesses— (32)— 
Recognition of prior service cost(8)8 15 
Recognition of actuarial loss(20)(4)4 
Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense$80 54 80 
Schedule of actuarial assumptions used to compute the funded status for the plans
The actuarial assumptions used to compute the funded status for the plans are based upon information available as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and are as follows:
 Combined Pension PlanPost-Retirement Benefit Plans
 December 31,December 31,
 2023202220232022
Actuarial assumptions at end of year:    
Discount rate5.21 %5.56 %5.20 %5.55 %
Rate of compensation increase3.25 %3.25 %N/AN/A
Initial health care cost trend rateN/AN/A
7.50% / 5.40%
7.20% / 5.00%
Ultimate health care cost trend rateN/AN/A4.50 %4.50 %
Year ultimate trend rate is reachedN/AN/A20312030
_______________________________________________________________________________
N/A - Not applicable
Schedule of change in benefit obligation
The following tables summarize the change in the benefit obligations for the Combined Pension Plan and post-retirement benefit plans:
 Combined Pension Plan
Years Ended December 31,
 202320222021
 (Dollars in millions)
Change in benefit obligation   
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$5,295 9,678 12,202 
Plan spin-off— (2,552)— 
Service cost25 37 56 
Interest cost270 154 201 
Plan amendments— — (13)
Special termination benefits charge2 — 6 
Actuarial loss (gain)114 (1,432)(337)
Benefits paid from plan assets(494)(590)(766)
Settlement payments and annuity purchase— — (1,671)
Benefit obligation at end of year$5,212 5,295 9,678 

 Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Years Ended December 31,
 202320222021
 (Dollars in millions)
Change in benefit obligation   
Benefit obligation at beginning of year$1,995 2,781 3,048 
Benefit obligation transferred to purchaser upon sale of business— (26)— 
Service cost5 10 14 
Interest cost103 72 47 
Participant contributions32 37 41 
Direct subsidy receipts2 2 3 
Plan amendments— (41)— 
Actuarial loss (gain)14 (591)(125)
Benefits paid by company(228)(249)(247)
Benefits paid from plan assets(4)— — 
Benefit obligation at end of year$1,919 1,995 2,781 
Schedule of change in plan assets
The following table summarizes the change in the fair value of plan assets for the Combined Pension Plan:

 Combined Pension Plan
Years Ended December 31,
 202320222021
 (Dollars in millions)
Change in plan assets   
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$4,715 8,531 10,546 
Plan spin-off— (2,239)— 
Return on plan assets255 (987)422 
Benefits paid from plan assets(494)(590)(766)
Settlement payments and annuity purchase— — (1,671)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year$4,476 4,715 8,531 
Schedule of fair value of the plans' assets by asset category
The table below presents the fair value of plan assets by category and the input levels used to determine those fair values at December 31, 2023. It is important to note that the asset allocations do not include market exposures that are gained with derivatives. Investments include dividend and interest receivables, pending trades and accrued expenses.
 Fair Value of Combined Pension Plan Assets at December 31, 2023
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
 (Dollars in millions)
Assets
Investment grade bonds (a)$390 1,838 — 2,228 
High yield bonds (b)— 32 4 36 
Emerging market bonds (c)57 57 — 114 
U.S. stocks (d)247 — 1 248 
Non-U.S. stocks (e)6 — — 6 
Multi-asset strategies (l)28 — — 28 
Total investments, excluding investments valued at NAV$728 1,927 5 2,660 
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements & other obligations (n)$— (375)— (375)
Derivatives (m)(1)— — (1)
Investments valued at NAV2,192 
Total pension plan assets   $4,476 
The table below presents the fair value of plan assets by category and the input levels used to determine those fair values at December 31, 2022. It is important to note that the asset allocations do not include market exposures that are gained with derivatives. Investments include dividend and interest receivable, pending trades and accrued expenses.
 Fair Value of Combined Pension Plan Assets at December 31, 2022
 Level 1Level 2Level 3Total
 (Dollars in millions)
Assets
Investment grade bonds (a)$446 1,720 — 2,166 
High yield bonds (b)— 48 4 52 
Emerging market bonds (c)49 78 — 127 
U.S. stocks (d)214 — 1 215 
Non-U.S. stocks (e)149 1 — 150 
Multi-asset strategies (l)25 — — 25 
Cash equivalents and short-term investments (o)— 1 — 1 
Total investments, excluding investments valued at NAV$883 1,848 5 2,736 
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements (n)$— (269)— (269)
Derivatives (m)(1)(10)— (11)
Investments valued at NAV2,259 
Total pension plan assets   $4,715 

The table below presents the fair value of plan assets valued at NAV by category for our Combined Pension Plan at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
 Fair Value of Plan Assets Valued at NAV
 Combined Pension Plan at
December 31,
20232022
 (Dollars in millions)
Investment grade bonds (a)$105 99 
High yield bonds (b)110 81 
U.S. stocks (d)51 79 
Non-U.S. stocks (e)412 270 
Emerging market stocks (f)10 15 
Private equity (g)272 326 
Private debt (h)421 438 
Market neutral hedge funds (i)77 135 
Directional hedge funds (j)124 166 
Real estate (k)265 333 
Multi-asset strategies (l)27 24 
Cash equivalents and short-term investments (o)318 293 
Total investments valued at NAV$2,192 2,259 
Schedule of gross notional exposure of the derivative instruments directly held by the plans
 Gross Notional Exposure
 Combined Pension Plan
Years Ended December 31,
 20232022
 (Dollars in millions)
Derivative instruments:  
Exchange-traded U.S. equity futures$60 70 
Exchange-traded Treasury and other interest rate futures1,136 1,256 
Exchange-traded Foreign currency futures1 2 
Interest rate swaps214 82 
Credit default swaps72 139 
Index swaps94 90 
Foreign exchange forwards57 50 
Options32 251 
Schedule of changes in fair value of defined benefit plans' Level 3 assets
The table below presents a rollforward of the Combined Pension Plan assets valued using Level 3 inputs:
 Combined Pension Plan Assets Valued Using Level 3 Inputs
 High
Yield
Bonds		U.S. StocksTotal
 (Dollars in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2021$6 5 11 
Dispositions(1)(4)(5)
Actual return on plan assets(1)— (1)
Balance at December 31, 20224 1 5 
(Dispositions) acquisitions(2)— (2)
Actual return on plan assets2 — 2 
Balance at December 31, 2023$4 1 5 
Schedule of the unfunded status of the benefit plans
The following table presents the unfunded status of the Combined Pension Plan and post-retirement benefit plans:
 Combined Pension PlanPost-Retirement
Benefit Plans
 Years Ended December 31,Years Ended December 31,
 2023202220232022
 (Dollars in millions)
Benefit obligation$(5,212)(5,295)(1,919)(1,995)
Fair value of plan assets4,476 4,715 1 5 
Unfunded status(736)(580)(1,918)(1,990)
Current portion of unfunded status— — (193)(210)
Non-current portion of unfunded status$(736)(580)(1,725)(1,780)
Schedule of items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense
The following table presents cumulative items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense as of December 31, 2022, items recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense in 2023, additional items deferred during 2023 and cumulative items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense as of December 31, 2023. The items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense have been recorded on our consolidated balance sheets in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

 As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
2022Recognition
of Net
Periodic
Benefits
Expense		DeferralsNet
Change in
AOCL		2023
 (Dollars in millions)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income     
Pension plans:     
Net actuarial (loss) gain$(1,752)80 (147)(67)(1,819)
Settlement charge383 — — — 383 
Prior service benefit (cost)17 (7)— (7)10 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)367 (23)37 14 381 
Total pension plans(985)50 (110)(60)(1,045)
Post-retirement benefit plans:     
Net actuarial gain (loss)371 (20)(14)(34)337 
Prior service benefit (cost)37 (8)— (8)29 
Curtailment loss4 — — — 4 
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit(104)7 3 10 (94)
Total post-retirement benefit plans308 (21)(11)(32)276 
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income$(677)29 (121)(92)(769)
The following table presents cumulative items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense as of December 31, 2021, items recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense in 2022, additional items deferred during 2022 and cumulative items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense as of December 31, 2022. The items not recognized as a component of net periodic benefits expense have been recorded on our consolidated balance sheets in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

 As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
 2021Recognition
of Net
Periodic
Benefits
Expense		DeferralsNet
Change in
AOCL		2022
 (Dollars in millions)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income     
Pension plans:     
Net actuarial (loss) gain$(2,564)688 124 812 (1,752)
Settlement charge383 — — — 383 
Prior service benefit (cost)45 (28)— (28)17 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)559 (166)(26)(192)367 
Total pension plans(1,577)494 98 592 (985)
Post-retirement benefit plans:     
Net actuarial (loss) gain(217)(3)591 588 371 
Prior service (cost) benefit(5)1 41 42 37 
Curtailment loss4 — — — 4 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)54 1 (159)(158)(104)
Total post-retirement benefit plans(164)(1)473 472 308 
Total accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income$(1,741)493 571 1,064 (677)