Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2011 jointventures	Oct. 19, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 year		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Description of Business
Number of joint-venture surface mines	2
Reverse stock split ratio (in shares)		15
Period company may receive up front payments for services to be provided in the future (in years)											25
USF contributions											$ 107		$ 77	$ 62
Advertising expense											15		8	7
Restricted cash and securities			61				51				61		51
Bad debt expense											6		16	14
Net Loss			(164)	(208)	(180)	(204)	(55)	(164)	(168)	(236)	(756)		(622)	(618)
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share (in dollars per share)			$ (0.80)	$ (1.76)	$ (1.58)	$ (1.82)	$ (0.49)	$ (1.48)	$ (1.52)	$ (2.15)	$ (5.51)	[1]	$ (5.62)	$ (5.68)	[1]
Capitalized labor and related costs associated with employee and contract labor working on capital projects											87		68	57
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)			20
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, minimum (in years)											4
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, maximum (in years)											12
Deferred taxes on certain indefinite-lived intangible assets											41		(91)	1
Deferred Income Tax Asset, Correction Related to Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets
Description of Business
Deferred taxes on certain indefinite-lived intangible assets						26
Sales Revenue | Customer Concentration Risk
Description of Business
Percentage of communications revenue from top ten customers			24.00%				27.00%				24.00%		27.00%	28.00%
Facility and Leasehold Improvements
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)											10
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											40
Network infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)											25
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											50
Operating Equipment
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)											4
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											15
Furniture, Fixutres, Office Equipment and Other
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)											2
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											7
Expansion and improvements of communications network and customer installations
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)											3
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											7
Software development
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, average (in years)											3
Montana
Description of Business
Number of joint-venture surface mines	1
Percentage of ownership of common stock in a joint-venture (as a percent)	50.00%
Wyoming
Description of Business
Number of joint-venture surface mines	1
Percentage of ownership of common stock in a joint-venture (as a percent)	50.00%
Service Life
Description of Business
Net Loss											$ 74
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share (in dollars per share)											$ 0.54
Service Life | Network infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)											25		12
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											50		25
Service Life | Operating Equipment
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, maximum (in years)											15		7

[1] Adjusted to give effect to the 1 for 15 reverse stock split that became effective on October 19, 2011. See Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.