Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-term debt
Unamortized premiums (discounts), net	$ 64,000,000	$ 75,000,000
Total long-term debt	7,533,000,000	7,558,000,000
Less current maturities	(635,000,000)	(637,000,000)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	6,898,000,000	6,921,000,000
Senior notes
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	7,411,000,000	7,411,000,000
Senior notes | Minimum
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	6.125%
Senior notes | Maximum
Long-term debt
Interest rate (as a percent)	8.375%
Capital lease and other obligations
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	58,000,000	72,000,000
Revolving promissory note | CenturyLink, Inc. affiliate
Long-term debt
Maximum borrowing capacity	1,000,000,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	6.619%
Note payable-affiliate	754,000,000	754,000,000
Accrued interest payable on related party note payable	$ 13,000,000