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Debt - Credit Facilities, Non-Cash Transaction, Guarantees (Detail) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity		$ 17,000,000,000		$ 17,000,000,000
Unused Capacity		9,943,000,000		9,943,000,000
Principal Amount Outstanding		4,823,000,000		4,823,000,000
Debt extinguishment losses		0	$ 0	1,100,000,000	$ 102,000,000
Guarantee of Debentures of Operating Telephone Company Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount outstanding in connection with the guarantee of debt obligations		765,000,000		765,000,000
Guarantee of Debt Obligations of GTE Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount outstanding in connection with the guarantee of debt obligations		391,000,000		391,000,000
Network Equipment \| Alternative Financing Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Value of purchase assets financed				337,000,000	$ 1,300,000,000
Long-term debt maturing within one year		1,300,000,000		1,300,000,000		$ 1,600,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity		9,500,000,000		9,500,000,000
Unused Capacity		9,413,000,000		9,413,000,000
Equipment Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Facility Capacity		7,500,000,000		7,500,000,000
Unused Capacity		530,000,000		530,000,000
Principal Amount Outstanding		$ 4,823,000,000		4,823,000,000
Amount drawn from credit facilities				$ 470,000,000
Equipment Credit Facilities \| Scenario, Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount drawn from credit facilities	$ 530,000,000