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Represents the ratio of debt to EBITDA (i.e. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as defined in the CenturyLink, Inc.'s Credit Facility) to be maintained under the term loan covenant.

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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

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Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

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No definition available.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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Amount of interest capitalized during the period.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of [accrued] interest payable on all forms of debt, including trade payables, that has been incurred and is unpaid. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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The amount for notes payable (written promise to pay), due to related parties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

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The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

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The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Weighted average interest rate of short-term debt outstanding calculated at point in time.

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Long-Term Debt and Note Payable - Affiliate - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 01, 2021	Oct. 23, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 16, 2021	Dec. 14, 2020	Oct. 26, 2020	Sep. 16, 2020	Aug. 07, 2020	Jun. 29, 2020	Jan. 15, 2020	Sep. 30, 2017	Feb. 20, 2015
Debt instruments
Repayments of debt				$ 63,000,000
Net loss on early retirement of debt			$ 8,000,000	63,000,000	$ 0
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			0	115,000,000	0
Repayments of long-term debt			1,186,000,000	2,796,000,000	12,000,000
Long-term debt, gross			2,203,000,000
Note payable - affiliate			1,187,000,000	1,130,000,000
Capitalized interest			(19,000,000)	(29,000,000)	$ (27,000,000)
Senior notes
Debt instruments
Net loss on early retirement of debt			(8,000,000)
Long-term debt, gross			$ 1,986,000,000	3,170,000,000
Senior notes \| Minimum
Debt instruments
Stated interest rate			6.50%
Senior notes \| Maximum
Debt instruments
Stated interest rate			7.75%
Senior notes \| 6.750% Notes Due 2021
Debt instruments
Stated interest rate	6.75%
Senior notes \| 7.000% Notes Due 2056
Debt instruments
Repurchased face amount						$ 235,000,000
Stated interest rate						7.00%
Senior notes \| 6.125% Notes Due 2053
Debt instruments
Repurchased face amount							$ 775,000,000
Stated interest rate							6.125%
Senior notes \| 6.625% Notes Due 2055
Debt instruments
Repurchased face amount								$ 160,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Stated interest rate								6.625%	6.625%
Senior notes \| 6.875% Notes Due 2054
Debt instruments
Repurchased face amount										$ 300,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Stated interest rate										6.875%	6.875%
Senior notes \| 6.875% Notes Due 2033
Debt instruments
Repurchased face amount												$ 850,000,000
Stated interest rate												6.875%
Senior notes \| 7.125% Notes Due 2043
Debt instruments
Repurchased face amount												$ 250,000,000
Stated interest rate												7.125%
Term loan
Debt instruments
Face amount of debt instrument														$ 100,000,000
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		$ 215,000,000
Repayments of long-term debt		$ 100,000,000
Long-term debt, gross			$ 215,000,000	215,000,000
Term loan \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate			2.00%
Term loan \| Minimum \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate			1.50%
Term loan \| Minimum \| Base Rate
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate			0.50%
Term loan \| Maximum \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate			2.50%
Term loan \| Maximum \| Base Rate
Debt instruments
Basis spread on variable rate			1.50%
Term loan \| Qwest Corporation
Debt instruments
Term Loan covenant Debt to EBITDA Ratio			2.85
Note payable - affiliate \| Affiliated entity
Debt instruments
Note payable - affiliate			$ 1,187,000,000	1,130,000,000
Weighted average interest rate, revolving promissory note			4.80%
Note payable - affiliate \| Affiliated entity \| Qwest Corporation
Debt instruments
Note payable - affiliate funding commitment													$ 965,000,000
Capitalized interest			$ (223,000,000)
Accrued interest			$ 29,000,000	$ 28,000,000
Senior notes \| Senior notes
Debt instruments
Repayments of debt	$ 950,000,000