Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 14, 2011 jointventures	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Description of Business
Number of joint-venture surface mines	2
Period company may receive up front payments for services to be provided in the future (in years)										25
USF contributions										$ 191	$ 107	$ 77
Advertising expense										20	15	8
Bad debt expense										15	6	16
Net Loss		(56)	(166)	(62)	(138)	(163)	(207)	(181)	(205)	(422)	(756)	(622)
Net Loss per Share, Basic and Diluted		$ (0.26)	$ (0.76)	$ (0.29)	$ (0.66)	$ (0.80)	$ (1.75)	$ (1.59)	$ (1.83)	$ (1.96)	$ (5.51)	$ (5.62)
Capitalized labor and related costs associated with employee and contract labor working on capital projects										146	87	68
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)						20					20
Deferred taxes on certain indefinite-lived intangible assets										48	41	(91)
Sales Revenue | Customer Concentration Risk
Description of Business
Percentage of communications revenue from top ten customers										17.00%	24.00%	27.00%
Montana
Description of Business
Number of joint-venture surface mines	1
Investments in Joint Venture, Percentage	50.00%
Wyoming
Description of Business
Number of joint-venture surface mines	1
Investments in Joint Venture, Percentage	50.00%
Service Life
Description of Business
Net Loss											$ 74
Net Loss per Share, Basic and Diluted											$ 0.54
Minimum [Member]
Description of Business
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, minimum (in years)										4 years
Minimum [Member] | Facility and Leasehold Improvements
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										10 years
Minimum [Member] | Network infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										25 years		12 years
Minimum [Member] | Operating Equipment
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										4 years
Minimum [Member] | Furniture, Fixutres, Office Equipment and Other
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										2 years
Minimum [Member] | Expansion and improvements of communications network and customer installations
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										3 years
Minimum [Member] | Service Life | Network infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										25 years
Maximum
Description of Business
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, minimum (in years)										12 years
Maximum | Facility and Leasehold Improvements
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										40 years
Maximum | Network infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										50 years		25 years
Maximum | Operating Equipment
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										15 years
Maximum | Furniture, Fixutres, Office Equipment and Other
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										7 years
Maximum | Expansion and improvements of communications network and customer installations
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										7 years
Maximum | Software development
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										3 years
Maximum | Service Life | Network infrastructure (including fiber and conduit)
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										50 years
Maximum | Service Life | Operating Equipment
Description of Business
Property, plant and equipment, useful life, minimum (in years)										15 years		7 years