Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended							9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011 CenturyLink Acquisition of Qwest	Jun. 30, 2011 Qwest Communications International Inc. Acquisition of Qwest	Mar. 31, 2011 Predecessor	Dec. 31, 2010 Predecessor
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
Operating revenues	$ 2,210	$ 2,183	$ 2,195	$ 2,260	$ 2,214	$ 2,190	$ 2,231	$ 6,635	$ 8,848			$ 2,268	$ 9,271
Operating income	525	459	455	466	417	412	370	1,199	1,905			638	2,483
Income tax expense (benefit)	160	133	113	136	115	118	116	349	542			191	791
Net income (loss)	241	212	178	218	179	199	165	543	849			299	1,082
Expenses associated with acquisition										123
Severance costs											98
Retention bonuses											12
Share-based compensation expense											11
System integration consulting expense											$ 1