Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows provided from (used by) operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (373)	$ (196)	$ 133
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,031	1,320	1,139
Loss on Debt Exchanges	7
Pension/OPEB costs	79	10	(18)
Special Termination Benefits	26
Stock based compensation expense	24	27	23
Gains on sale of assets			(37)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	46	191	10
Other non-cash adjustments	(12)		22
Deferred income taxes	(206)	(167)	(78)
Change in accounts receivable	(19)	62	(61)
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities	(22)	102	90
Change in prepaid expenses, income taxes and other current assets	85	(48)	47
Net cash provided from operating activities	1,666	1,301	1,270
Cash flows provided from (used by) investing activities:
Cash paid for an acquisition, net of cash acquired	(9,871)
Cash paid for Conn. Acquisition			(2,018)
Capital expenditures - Business operations	(1,259)	(710)	(572)
Capital expenditures - Integration activities	(142)	(153)	(116)
Network expansion funded by Connect America Fund - Phase I		(22)	(56)
Grant funds received for network expansion from Connect America Fund - Phase I			4
Proceeds on sale of assets	8	22	39
Cash paid for an acquisition, net of cash acquired		(17)
Other	5	2	32
Net cash used by investing activities	(11,259)	(878)	(2,687)
Cash flows provided from (used by) financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings	1,940	6,603	1,911
Financing costs paid	(39)	(119)	(40)
Long-term debt payments	(453)	(298)	(260)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net		799
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net		1,866
Dividends paid on common stock	(493)	(456)	(401)
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(214)	(120)
Other	(6)		(2)
Net cash provided from financing activities	735	8,275	1,208
Increase/(Decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(8,858)	8,698	(209)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at January 1,	9,380	682	891
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at December 31,	522	9,380	682
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	1,467	728	656
Income taxes(refunds), net	(120)	28	70
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Financing obligation for contribution of real property to pension plan	15		15
Reduction of pension obligation	15
Increase (decrease) in capital expenditures due to change in accounts payable	(60)	$ (56)	$ (15)
Conversion of operating leases to capital leases	$ 111