Lumen (LUMN) 10-Q4 Aug 212021 Q2 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Cover Page

Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
Cover Page - shares	Jun. 30, 2021	Jul. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-7784
Entity Registrant Name	LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	LA
Entity Tax Identification Number	72-0651161
Entity Address, Address Line One	100 CenturyLink Drive,
Entity Address, City or Town	Monroe,
Entity Address, State or Province	LA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	71203
City Area Code	318
Local Phone Number	388-9000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,105,232,133
Entity Central Index Key	0000018926
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
Trading Symbol	LUMN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Preferred Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
No Trading Symbol Flag	true
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
OPERATING REVENUE	$ 4,924	$ 5,192	$ 9,953	$ 10,420
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	2,115	2,232	4,251	4,467
Selling, general and administrative	762	895	1,518	1,748
Depreciation and amortization	1,041	1,162	2,191	2,322
Total operating expenses	3,918	4,289	7,960	8,537
OPERATING INCOME	1,006	903	1,993	1,883
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME
Interest expense	(384)	(414)	(773)	(863)
Other income (expense), net	52	24	86	(74)
Total other expense, net	(332)	(390)	(687)	(937)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	674	513	1,306	946
Income tax expense	168	136	325	255
NET INCOME	$ 506	$ 377	$ 981	$ 691
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.35	$ 0.90	$ 0.64
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 0.35	$ 0.90	$ 0.64
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
BASIC (in shares)	1,086,453	1,079,475	1,084,464	1,077,755
DILUTED (in shares)	1,093,402	1,082,567	1,092,494	1,082,218

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 506	$ 377	$ 981	$ 691
Items related to employee benefit plans:
Change in net actuarial loss, net of $(12), $(13), (24) and $(25) tax	38	39	76	77
Change in net prior service cost, net of $—, $(1), (1) and $(1) tax	1	2	2	3
Reclassification of realized loss on interest rate swaps to net income, net of $(5), $(5), (10) and $(5) tax	16	11	31	16
Unrealized holding loss on interest rate swaps, net of $—, $2, — and $28 tax	0	(8)	0	(88)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of $(4), $(4), 3 and $19 tax	80	9	(6)	(230)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	135	53	103	(222)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 641	$ 430	$ 1,084	$ 469

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CO_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Change in net actuarial loss, tax	$ (12)	$ (13)	$ (24)	$ (25)
Change in net prior service cost, tax	0	(1)	(1)	(1)
Reclassification of realized loss on interest rate swaps to net income, tax	(5)	(5)	(10)	(5)
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on interest rate swaps, tax	0	2	0	28
Foreign currency translation adjustment and other, tax	$ (4)	$ (4)	$ 3	$ 19

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 935	$ 406
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $152 and $191	1,905	1,962
Other	906	808
Total current assets	3,746	3,176
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $32,917 and $31,596	25,993	26,338
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS
Goodwill	18,867	18,870
Other intangible assets, net	7,663	8,219
Other, net	2,678	2,791
Total goodwill and other assets	29,208	29,880
TOTAL ASSETS	58,947	59,394
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	2,595	2,427
Accounts payable	966	1,134
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Salaries and benefits	931	1,008
Income and other taxes	294	314
Current operating lease liabilities	389	379
Interest	301	291
Other	286	328
Current portion of deferred revenue	748	753
Total current liabilities	6,510	6,634
LONG-TERM DEBT	28,574	29,410
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes, net	3,643	3,342
Benefit plan obligations, net	4,321	4,556
Other	4,193	4,290
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	12,157	12,188
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 12)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock—non-redeemable, $25.00 par value, authorized 2,000 and 2,000 shares, issued and outstanding 7 and 7 shares	0	0
Common stock, $1.00 par value, authorized 2,200,000 and 2,200,000 shares, issued and outstanding 1,105,186 and 1,096,921 shares	1,105	1,097
Additional paid-in capital	20,361	20,909
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,710)	(2,813)
Accumulated deficit	(7,050)	(8,031)
Total stockholders' equity	11,706	11,162
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 58,947	$ 59,394

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance	$ 152	$ 191
PP&E, accumulated depreciation	$ 32,917	$ 31,596
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, shares authorized (in shares)	2,000,000	2,000,000
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, shares issued (in shares)	7,000	7,000
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, shares outstanding (in shares)	7,000	7,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	2,200,000,000	2,200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	1,105,186,000	1,096,921,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	1,105,186,000	1,096,921,000

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 981	$ 691
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,191	2,322
Deferred income taxes	279	220
Provision for uncollectible accounts	53	90
Net (gain) loss on early retirement of debt	(8)	86
Share-based compensation	62	89
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	4	(2)
Accounts payable	(181)	(227)
Accrued income and other taxes	(29)	(3)
Other current assets and liabilities, net	(208)	(203)
Retirement benefits	(131)	(62)
Changes in other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	120	51
Other, net	31	(4)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,164	3,048
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures	(1,362)	(1,983)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	66	84
Other, net	1	1
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,295)	(1,898)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,881	2,425
Payments of long-term debt	(2,464)	(3,696)
Net (payments of) proceeds from revolving line of credit	(150)	825
Dividends paid	(568)	(562)
Other, net	(49)	(75)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,350)	(1,083)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	519	67
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	427	1,717
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	946	1,784
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid, net	(73)	(20)
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest of $26 and $43)	(744)	(828)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents	935	1,763
Restricted cash included in Other current assets	2	3
Restricted cash included in Other, net noncurrent assets	9	18
Total	$ 946	$ 1,784

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CA_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Capitalized interest	$ 26	$ 43

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	COMMON STOCK	ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS	ACCUMULATED DEFICIT	ACCUMULATED DEFICITCumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,090	$ 21,874	$ (2,680)	$ (6,814)	$ 9
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock through incentive and benefit plans		7
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings			(35)
Share-based compensation and other, net			99
Dividends declared			(562)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (222)			(222)
Net income	691				691
Other					5
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 13,462	1,097	21,376	(2,902)	(6,109)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020		1,098	21,634	(2,955)	(6,486)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock through incentive and benefit plans		(1)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings			(2)
Share-based compensation and other, net			20
Dividends declared			(276)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 53			53
Net income	377				377
Other					0
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 13,462	1,097	21,376	(2,902)	(6,109)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 11,162	1,097	20,909	(2,813)	(8,031)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock through incentive and benefit plans		8
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings			(42)
Share-based compensation and other, net			64
Dividends declared			(570)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	103			103
Net income	981				981
Other					0
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 11,706	1,105	20,361	(2,710)	(7,050)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2021		1,106	20,598	(2,845)	(7,556)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock through incentive and benefit plans		(1)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings			(3)
Share-based compensation and other, net			44
Dividends declared			(278)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 135			135
Net income	506				506
Other					0
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 11,706	$ 1,105	$ 20,361	$ (2,710)	$ (7,050)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ST_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED) (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income tax expense	$ 168	$ 136	$ 325	$ 255
ACCUMULATED DEFICIT \| Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Income tax expense					$ 2

Background

Background	6 Months Ended
Background	Jun. 30, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Background	Background General We are an international facilities-based technology and communications company engaged primarily in providing a broad array of integrated services to our business and mass markets customers. Our specific products and services are detailed in Note 3—Revenue Recognition. Basis of Presentation Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, which was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, and our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements provided herein have been prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). However, in our opinion, the disclosures made therein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We believe these consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the results for the interim periods. The consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the first six months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations and cash flows that might be expected for the entire year. These consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest. Intercompany amounts and transactions with our consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated. To simplify the overall presentation of our consolidated financial statements, we report immaterial amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests in certain of our subsidiaries as follows: (i) income attributable to noncontrolling interests in other income (expense), net, (ii) equity attributable to noncontrolling interests in additional paid-in capital and (iii) cash flows attributable to noncontrolling interests in other, net, financing activities. We reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation, including the categorization of our revenue and expenses in our segment reporting. See Note 11—Segment Information for additional information. These changes had no impact on total operating revenue, total operating expenses or net income for any period. Operating lease assets are included in other, net under goodwill and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Noncurrent operating lease liabilities are included in other under deferred credits and other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. There were no book overdrafts included in accounts payable at June 30, 2021 or December 31, 2020. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Refer to the significant accounting policies described in Note 1— Background and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Debt On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2020-09, " Debt (Topic 470) Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-10762 " ("ASU 2020-09"). This ASU amends and supersedes various SEC paragraphs to reflect SEC Release No. 33-10762, which includes amendments to the financial disclosure requirements applicable to registered debt offerings that include credit enhancements, such as subsidiary guarantees. The adoption of ASU 2020-09 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. Investments On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2020-01, " Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815) " ("ASU 2020-01"). This ASU, among other things, clarifies that a company should consider observable transactions that require a company to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting under Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321 immediately before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method. As of June 30, 2021, we determined there was no application or discontinuation of the equity method during the reporting periods. The adoption of ASU 2020-01 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. Income taxes On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2019-12, " Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740) " ("ASU 2019-12"). This ASU removes certain exceptions for investments, intra-period allocations and interim calculations, and adds guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments We adopted ASU 2016-13, " Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments " ("ASU 2016-13") on January 1, 2020 and recognized a cumulative adjustment to our accumulated deficit as of the date of adoption of $9 million, net of tax effect of $2 million. Please refer to Note 4—Credit Losses on Financial Instruments for more information. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, " Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope " ("ASU 2021-01"), which clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. ASU 2021-01 also amends the expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. ASU 2021-01 provides option guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. Based on our review of our key material contracts through June 30, 2021, we do not expect ASU 2021-01 to have any material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, " Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting " ("ASU 2020-04" or "Reference Rate Reform"), designed to ease the burden of accounting for contract modifications related to the global market-wide reference rate transition period. Subject to certain criteria, ASU 2020-04 provides qualifying entities the option to apply expedients and exceptions to contract modifications and hedging accounting relationships made until December 31, 2022. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. Based on our review of our key material contracts through June 30, 2021, we do not expect ASU 2020-04 to have any material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill, Customer Relationship

Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets	Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill, customer relationships and other intangible assets consisted of the following: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Goodwill $ 18,867 18,870 Indefinite-life intangible assets $ 9 278 Other intangible assets subject to amortization: Customer relationships, less accumulated amortization of $11,546 and $11,060 5,856 6,344 Capitalized software, less accumulated amortization of $3,432 and $3,279 1,481 1,520 Trade names, patents and other, less accumulated amortization of $149 and $120 317 77 Total other intangible assets, net $ 7,663 8,219 When we acquired Embarq Corporation ("Embarq") in 2009, we acquired certain right-of-way assets and, because there were no legal, regulatory, contractual or other factors that would reasonably limit the useful life of these assets, we classified them as indefinite-lived and, as such, these assets were not amortized. However, as we leverage our fiber infrastructure assets, our reliance on the legacy infrastructure (largely copper-based) acquired from Embarq is diminishing. Our recent digital transformation efforts have prompted management to reassess and ultimately change the accounting treatment of these indefinite-lived assets to align with our focus on growth products versus our declining products. As a result, during the first quarter of 2021, we reclassified an indefinite-lived intangible asset to definite-lived intangible asset. As of January 1, 2021 we began amortizing the $268 million asset over its estimated nine-year remaining life. This change in the estimated remaining economic life resulted in an increase in amortization expense of approximately $7 million and $15 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and is expected to increase amortization expense by approximately $30 million for the year ending December 31, 2021. The increase in amortization expense, net of tax, reduced consolidated net income by approximately $5 million and $11 million, respectively, with no impact per basic and diluted common share for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and a $0.01 reduction to basic and diluted common share for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and is expected to reduce consolidated net income by approximately $23 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted common share, for the year ending December 31, 2021. Our goodwill was derived from numerous acquisitions where the purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net assets acquired. We assess our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or, under certain circumstances, more frequently, such as when events or changes in circumstances indicate there may be impairment. We are required to write down the value of goodwill only when our assessment determines the carrying value of equity of any of our reporting units exceeds its fair value. Our annual impairment assessment date for goodwill is October 31, at which date we assess our reporting units. Our annual impairment assessment date for indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill is December 31. Our reporting units are not discrete legal entities with discrete full financial statements. Our assets and liabilities are employed in and relate to the operations of multiple reporting units. For each reporting unit, we compare its estimated fair value of equity to its carrying value of equity that we assign to the reporting unit. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is greater than the carrying value, we conclude that no impairment exists. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, we record an impairment equal to the excess amount. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we typically estimate the fair value of our reporting units by considering either or both of (i) a discounted cash flow method, which is based on the present value of projected cash flows over a discrete projection period and a terminal value, which represents the value of expected normalized cash flows of the reporting units following the discrete projection period, and (ii) a market approach, which includes the use of market multiples of publicly-traded companies whose services are comparable to ours . We completed an internal reorganization in January 2021. We now, as a result, report two segments: Business and Mass Markets. The following table shows the rollforward of goodwill assigned to our reportable segments, including the reorganization, from December 31, 2020 through June 30, 2021: International and Global Accounts Enterprise Small and Medium Business Wholesale Consumer Business Mass Markets Total (Dollars in millions) As of December 31, 2020 (1) $ 2,555 4,738 2,808 3,114 5,655 — — 18,870 January 2021 reorganization (2,555) (4,738) (2,808) (3,114) (5,655) 12,173 6,697 — Effect of foreign currency exchange rate change and other — — — — — (3) — (3) As of June 30, 2021 (1) $ — — — — — 12,170 6,697 18,867 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) Goodwill at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is net of accumulated impairment losses of $12.9 billion. The January 2021 reorganization was considered a change in event or circumstance which required an assessment of our goodwill for impairment. We performed a qualitative impairment assessment in the first quarter of 2021 and concluded it is more likely than not that the fair value of each of our reporting units exceeded the carrying value of equity of our reporting units at January 31, 2021. Therefore, no impairment existed as of our assessment date. Total amortization expense for intangible assets for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 totaled $318 million and $440 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 totaled $743 million and $871 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2021, the gross carrying amount of goodwill, customer relationships, indefinite-life and other intangible assets was $41.7 billion. We estimate that total amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2021 through 2025 will be as follows: (Dollars in millions) 2021 (remaining six months) $ 597 2022 1,087 2023 991 2024 893 2025 803

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition	6 Months Ended
Revenue Recognition	Jun. 30, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Product and Service Categories Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, we categorize our products and services revenue among the following four categories for the Business segment: • Compute and Application Services , which include our Edge Cloud services, IT solutions, Unified Communications and Collaboration ("UC&C"), data center, content delivery network ("CDN") and Managed Security services; • IP and Data Services , which include Ethernet, IP, and VPN data networks, including software-defined wide area networks ("SD WAN") based services, Dynamic Connections and Hyper WAN; • Fiber Infrastructure Services , which include dark fiber, optical services and equipment; and • Voice and Other , which include Time Division Multiplexing ("TDM") voice, private line and other legacy services. Beginning in the first quarter of 2021, we categorize our products and services revenue among the following four categories for the Mass Markets segment: • Consumer Broadband , which includes high speed fiber-based and lower speed DSL-based broadband services to residential customers; • Small Business Group ("SBG") Broadband , which includes high speed fiber-based and lower speed DSL-based broadband services to small businesses; • Voice and Other, which include primarily local and long-distance services, retail video services (including our linear and TV services), professional services and other ancillary services; and • Connect America Fund ("CAF") II, which consists of Connect America Fund Phase II payments through the end of 2021 to support voice and broadband in FCC-designated high-cost areas. Reconciliation of Total Revenue to Revenue from Contracts with Customers The following tables provide total revenue by segment, sales channel and product category. It also provides the amount of revenue that is not subject to ASC 606, " Revenue from Contracts with Customers " ("ASC 606"), but is instead governed by other accounting standards: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) Business Segment by Sales Channel and Product Category International and Global Accounts ("IGAM") Compute and Application Services $ 179 (70) 109 192 (64) 128 IP and Data Services 427 — 427 432 — 432 Fiber Infrastructure Services 216 (32) 184 202 (28) 174 Voice and Other 182 — 182 205 — 205 Total IGAM Revenue 1,004 (102) 902 1,031 (92) 939 Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) Large Enterprise Compute and Application Services 172 (16) 156 160 (22) 138 IP and Data Services 388 — 388 400 (1) 399 Fiber Infrastructure Services 127 (12) 115 136 (13) 123 Voice and Other 244 — 244 277 — 277 Total Large Enterprise Revenue 931 (28) 903 973 (36) 937 Mid-Market Enterprise Compute and Application Services 36 (8) 28 35 (3) 32 IP and Data Services 438 (2) 436 463 (1) 462 Fiber Infrastructure Services 53 (2) 51 57 (3) 54 Voice and Other 155 — 155 200 — 200 Total Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue 682 (12) 670 755 (7) 748 Wholesale Compute and Application Services 49 (41) 8 45 (39) 6 IP and Data Services 297 — 297 313 — 313 Fiber Infrastructure Services 155 (28) 127 152 (30) 122 Voice and Other 404 (62) 342 448 (65) 383 Total Wholesale Revenue 905 (131) 774 958 (134) 824 Business Segment by Product Category Compute and Application Services 436 (135) 301 432 (128) 304 IP and Data Services 1,550 (2) 1,548 1,608 (2) 1,606 Fiber Infrastructure Services 551 (74) 477 547 (74) 473 Voice and Other 985 (62) 923 1,130 (65) 1,065 Total Business Segment Revenue $ 3,522 (273) 3,249 3,717 (269) 3,448 Mass Markets Segment by Product Category Consumer Broadband $ 723 (53) 670 726 (55) 671 SBG Broadband 39 (4) 35 39 (5) 34 Voice and Other 518 (19) 499 587 (29) 558 CAF II 122 (122) — 123 (123) — Total Mass Markets Segment $ 1,402 (198) 1,204 1,475 (212) 1,263 Total Revenue $ 4,924 (471) 4,453 5,192 (481) 4,711 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) Business Segment by Sales Channel and Product Category International and Global Accounts ("IGAM") Compute and Application Services $ 358 (139) 219 393 (133) 260 IP and Data Services 854 — 854 869 — 869 Fiber Infrastructure Services 432 (62) 370 404 (54) 350 Voice and Other 373 — 373 406 — 406 Total IGAM Revenue 2,017 (201) 1,816 2,072 (187) 1,885 Large Enterprise Compute and Application Services 337 (31) 306 314 (39) 275 IP and Data Services 783 — 783 801 (1) 800 Fiber Infrastructure Services 251 (27) 224 274 (23) 251 Voice and Other 497 — 497 550 — 550 Total Large Enterprise Revenue 1,868 (58) 1,810 1,939 (63) 1,876 Mid-Market Enterprise Compute and Application Services 72 (16) 56 69 (11) 58 IP and Data Services 891 (3) 888 929 (2) 927 Fiber Infrastructure Services 113 (4) 109 111 (7) 104 Voice and Other 322 — 322 407 — 407 Total Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue 1,398 (23) 1,375 1,516 (20) 1,496 Wholesale Compute and Application Services 97 (81) 16 91 (79) 12 IP and Data Services 602 — 602 631 — 631 Fiber Infrastructure Services 309 (59) 250 305 (60) 245 Voice and Other 826 (125) 701 900 (133) 767 Total Wholesale Revenue 1,834 (265) 1,569 1,927 (272) 1,655 Business Segment by Product Category Compute and Application Services 864 (267) 597 867 (262) 605 IP and Data Services 3,130 (3) 3,127 3,230 (3) 3,227 Fiber Infrastructure Services 1,105 (152) 953 1,094 (144) 950 Voice and Other 2,018 (125) 1,893 2,263 (133) 2,130 Total Business Segment Revenue $ 7,117 (547) 6,570 7,454 (542) 6,912 Mass Markets Segment by Product Category Consumer Broadband $ 1,454 (105) 1,349 1,448 (108) 1,340 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) SBG Broadband 78 (8) 70 78 (8) 70 Voice and Other 1,059 (40) 1,019 1,194 (58) 1,136 CAF II 245 (245) — 246 (246) — Total Mass Markets Segment $ 2,836 (398) 2,438 2,966 (420) 2,546 Total Revenue $ 9,953 (945) 9,008 10,420 (962) 9,458 _____________________________________________________________________ (1) Includes regulatory revenue and lease revenue not within the scope of ASC 606. Operating Lease Revenue Lumen Technologies leases various dark fiber, office facilities, colocation facilities, switching facilities, other network sites and service equipment to third parties under operating leases. Lease and sublease income are included in operating revenue in our consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, our gross rental income was $327 million and $333 million, respectively, which represents approximately 7% and 6%, respectively, of our operating revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. For the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, our gross rental income was $659 million and $666 million, respectively, which represents 7% and 6%, respectively, of our operating revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. Customer Receivables and Contract Balances The following table provides balances of customer receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Customer receivables (1) $ 1,830 1,889 Contract assets 85 108 Contract liabilities 876 950 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) Reflects gross customer receivables of $2.0 billion and $2.1 billion, net of allowance for credit losses of $137 million and $174 million, at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Contract liabilities are consideration we have received from our customers or billed in advance of providing goods or services promised in the future. We defer recognizing this consideration as revenue until we have satisfied the related performance obligation to the customer. Contract liabilities include recurring services billed one month in advance and installation and maintenance charges that are deferred and recognized over the actual or expected contract term, which typically ranges from one Performance Obligations As of June 30, 2021, our estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations associated with existing customer contracts that are partially or wholly unsatisfied is approximately $6.7 billion. We expect to recognize approximately 72% of this revenue through 2023, with the balance recognized thereafter. These amounts exclude (i) the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed (for example, uncommitted usage or non-recurring charges associated with professional or technical services to be completed), and (ii) contracts that are classified as leasing arrangements that are not subject to ASC 606. Contract Costs The following tables provide changes in our contract acquisition costs and fulfillment costs: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs (Dollars in millions) (Dollars in millions) Beginning of period balance $ 279 216 320 220 Costs incurred 45 38 36 34 Amortization (53) (37) (56) (35) End of period balance $ 271 217 300 219 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs (Dollars in millions) (Dollars in millions) Beginning of period balance $ 289 216 326 221 Costs incurred 89 75 85 70 Amortization (107) (74) (111) (72) End of period balance $ 271 217 300 219 Acquisition costs include commission fees paid to employees as a result of obtaining contracts. Fulfillment costs include third party and internal costs associated with the provision, installation and activation of services to customers, including labor and materials consumed for these activities. Deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs are amortized based on the transfer of services on a straight-line basis over the average customer life of approximately 30 months for mass markets and business customers. Amortized fulfillment costs are included in cost of services and products and amortized acquisition costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. The amount of these deferred costs that are anticipated to be amortized in the next 12 months are included in other current assets on our consolidated balance sheets. The amount of deferred costs expected to be amortized beyond the next 12 months is included in other non-current assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Deferred acquisition and fulfillment costs are assessed for impairment on an annual basis.

Credit Losses on Financial Inst

Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	Jun. 30, 2021
Credit Loss [Abstract]
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	Credit Losses on Financial Instruments In accordance with ASC 326, " Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, " we aggregate financial assets with similar risk characteristics to align our expected credit losses with the credit quality or deterioration over the life of such assets. We monitor certain risk characteristics within our aggregated financial assets and revise their composition accordingly, to the extent internal and external risk factors change each reporting period. Financial assets that do not share risk characteristics with other financial assets are evaluated separately. Our financial assets measured at amortized cost primarily consist of accounts receivable. We use a loss rate method to estimate our allowance for credit losses. Our determination of the current expected credit loss rate begins with our use of historical loss experience as a percentage of accounts receivable. We measure our historical loss period based on the average days to recognize accounts receivable as credit losses. When asset specific characteristics and current conditions change from those in the historical period, due to changes in our credit and collections strategy, certain classes of aged balances, or credit loss and recovery policies, we perform a qualitative and quantitative assessment to adjust our historical loss rate. We use regression analysis to develop an expected loss rate using historical experience and economic data over a forecast period. We measure our forecast period based on the average days to collect payment on billed accounts receivable. To determine our current allowance for credit losses, we combine the historical and expected credit loss rates and apply them to our period end accounts receivable. In conjunction with our internal reorganization, as referenced in Note 11—Segment Information, we pooled certain assets with similar credit risk characteristics based on the nature of our customers, their industry, policies used to grant credit terms and their historical and expected credit loss patterns. Additionally, we reassessed our historical loss period for the segment portfolio reorganization. If there is a deterioration of a customer's financial condition or if future default rates in general differ from currently anticipated default rates (including changes caused by COVID-19), we may need to adjust the allowance for credit losses, which would affect earnings in the period that adjustments are made. The assessment of the correlation between historical observed default rates, current conditions and forecasted economic conditions requires judgment. Alternative interpretations of these factors could have resulted in different conclusions regarding the allowance for credit losses. The amount of credit loss is sensitive to changes in circumstances and forecasted economic conditions. Our historical credit loss experience, current conditions and forecast of economic conditions may also not be representative of the customers' actual default experience in the future. The following table presents the activity of our allowance for credit losses by accounts receivable portfolio for the six months ended June 30, 2021: Business Mass Markets Total (Dollars in millions) Beginning balance at January 1, 2021 (1) $ 109 82 191 Provision for expected losses 21 32 53 Write-offs charged against the allowance (35) (82) (117) Recoveries collected 8 17 25 Ending balance at June 30, 2021 $ 103 49 152 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) As described in Note 11—Segment Information, we completed an internal reorganization in January 2021. As a result of this change, allowance for credit losses previously included in the Consumer and Business portfolio of $70 million related to consumer and $12 million related to our small business group, respectively, were reclassified to the Mass Markets allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, we decreased our allowance for credit losses for our business and mass markets accounts receivable portfolios primarily due to higher write-off activity in the first half of 2021 with the easing of prior delays due to COVID-19 related restrictions in 2020 and lower receivable balances.

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facil

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities	6 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities	Jun. 30, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities	Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities The following chart reflects the consolidated long-term debt of Lumen Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including unamortized discounts and premiums, net and unamortized debt issuance costs, but excluding intercompany debt: Interest Rates (1) Maturities (1) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Senior Secured Debt: (2) Lumen Technologies, Inc. Revolving Credit Facility (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2025 $ — 150 Term Loan A (3) (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2025 1,079 1,108 Term Loan A-1 (3) (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2025 308 316 Term Loan B (4) (7) LIBOR + 2.25% 2027 4,925 4,950 Senior notes 4.000% 2027 1,250 1,250 Subsidiaries: Level 3 Financing, Inc. Tranche B 2027 Term Loan (5) (7) LIBOR + 1.75% 2027 3,111 3,111 Senior notes 3.400% - 3.875% 2027 - 2029 1,500 1,500 Embarq Corporation subsidiaries First mortgage bonds 7.125% - 8.375% 2023 - 2025 138 138 Senior Notes and Other Debt: Lumen Technologies, Inc. Senior notes 4.500% - 7.650% 2022 - 2042 8,414 8,645 Subsidiaries: Level 3 Financing, Inc. Senior notes 3.625% - 5.375% 2025 - 2029 5,515 5,515 Qwest Corporation Senior notes 6.500% - 7.750% 2021 - 2057 2,935 3,170 Term Loan (6) (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2027 215 215 Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. Senior notes 6.875% - 7.750% 2021 - 2031 352 352 Embarq Corporation and subsidiary Senior note 7.995% 2036 1,437 1,437 Finance lease and other obligations Various Various 321 295 Unamortized discounts, net (96) (78) Unamortized debt issuance costs (235) (237) Total long-term debt 31,169 31,837 Less current maturities (2,595) (2,427) Long-term debt, excluding current maturities $ 28,574 29,410 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) As of June 30, 2021. (2) See Note 6—Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for a description of certain parent or subsidiary guarantees and liens securing this debt. (3) Term Loans A and A-1 had interest rates of 2.104% and 2.147% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (4) Term Loan B had interest rates of 2.354% and 2.397% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (5) The Tranche B 2027 Term Loan had interest rates of 1.854% and 1.897% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (6) Qwest Corporation Term Loan had interest rates of 2.110% and 2.150% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (7) See Note 1— Background for our considerations of the impact of Reference Rate Reform on our debt subject to rate reference changes from LIBOR. Long-Term Debt Maturities Set forth below is the aggregate principal amount of our long-term debt as of June 30, 2021 (excluding unamortized discounts, net, and unamortized debt issuance costs), maturing during the following years: (Dollars in millions) 2021 (remaining six months) $ 1,127 2022 1,542 2023 966 2024 1,143 2025 2,908 2026 and thereafter 23,814 Total long-term debt $ 31,500 Repayments During the six months ended June 30, 2021, Lumen Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates repaid or redeemed approximately $2.6 billion of their respective debt obligations, which primarily included $150 million of payments on our revolving credit facility, $1.2 billion repayment at maturity of Lumen senior unsecured notes, $900 million redemption of Level 3 Financing, Inc. senior notes and $235 million redemption of Qwest Corporation senior notes. These transactions resulted in a net gain of $8 million. New Issuances On June 15, 2021, Lumen Technologies, Inc. issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2029 (the "2029 Notes"). The net proceeds were used, together with cash on hand, to repay at maturity our outstanding $1.2 billion 6.450% Senior Notes, Series S, due 2021. On January 13, 2021, Level 3 Financing, Inc. issued $900 million aggregate principal amount of 3.750% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes due 2029 (the "Sustainability-Linked Notes"). The net proceeds were used, together with cash on hand, to redeem $900 million of its outstanding senior note indebtedness. The Sustainability-Linked Notes are guaranteed by Level 3 Parent, LLC and Level 3 Communications, LLC. Covenants Certain of our debt instruments contain affirmative and negative covenants. Debt at Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Level 3 Financing, Inc. contains more extensive covenants including, among other things and subject to certain exceptions, restrictions on the ability to declare or pay dividends, repay certain other indebtedness, create liens, incur additional indebtedness, make investments, engage in transactions with affiliates, dispose of assets and merge or consolidate with any other person. Also, Lumen Technologies, Inc. and certain of its affiliates will be required to offer to purchase certain of their respective outstanding debt under defined circumstances in connection with specified "change of control" transactions. Certain of our debt instruments contain cross-payment default or cross-acceleration provisions. Compliance As of June 30, 2021, Lumen Technologies, Inc. believes it and its subsidiaries were in compliance with the provisions and financial covenants in their respective material debt agreements in all material respects.

Severance

Severance	6 Months Ended
Severance	Jun. 30, 2021
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Severance	Severance Periodically, we reduce our workforce and accrue liabilities for the related severance costs. These workforce reductions result primarily from the progression or completion of our post-acquisition integration plans, increased competitive pressures, cost reduction initiatives, process improvements through automation and reduced workload demands due to the loss of customers purchasing certain services. Changes in our accrued liabilities for severance expenses were as follows: Severance (Dollars in millions) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 103 Accrued to expense — Payments, net (51) Balance at June 30, 2021 $ 52

Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits	6 Months Ended
Employee Benefits	Jun. 30, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Employee Benefits	Employee Benefits For detailed description of the various defined benefit pension plans (qualified and non-qualified), post-retirement benefits plans and defined contribution plan we sponsor, see Note 10—Employee Benefits to the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Net periodic benefit income for the Lumen Combined Pension Plan ("Combined Pension Plan") includes the following components: Combined Pension Plan Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions) Service cost $ 15 13 28 29 Interest cost 49 80 99 162 Expected return on plan assets (138) (149) (276) (298) Recognition of prior service credit (3) (1) (5) (4) Recognition of actuarial loss 49 52 98 102 Net periodic pension benefit income $ (28) (5) (56) (9) Net periodic benefit expense for our post-retirement benefit plans includes the following components: Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions) Service cost $ 3 3 7 7 Interest cost 11 20 23 40 Recognition of prior service cost 4 4 8 8 Recognition of actuarial loss 1 — 2 — Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense $ 19 27 40 55 Service costs are included in the cost of services and products and selling, general and administrative line items on the consolidated statements of operations and all other costs listed above are included in other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations. Benefits paid by the Combined Pension Plan are paid through a trust that holds all of the Plan's assets. The amount of required contributions to the Combined Pension Plan in 2022 and beyond will depend on a variety of factors, most of which are beyond our control, including earnings on plan investments, prevailing interest rates, demographic experience, changes in plan benefits and changes in funding laws and regulations. We occasionally make voluntary contributions in addition to required contributions. Based on current laws and circumstances, we do not believe we are required to make any contributions to the Combined Pension Plan in 2021, but we could make voluntary contributions to the trust for the Combined Pension Plan in 2021.

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share	6 Months Ended
Earnings Per Common Share	Jun. 30, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Common Share	Earnings Per Common Share Basic and diluted earnings per common share were calculated as follows: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts, shares in thousands) Income (Numerator): Net income $ 506 377 981 691 Net income applicable to common stock for computing basic earnings per common share 506 377 981 691 Net income as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted earnings per common share $ 506 377 981 691 Shares (Denominator): Weighted-average number of shares: Outstanding during period 1,105,403 1,097,586 1,102,877 1,095,278 Non-vested restricted stock (18,950) (18,111) (18,413) (17,523) Weighted-average shares outstanding for computing basic earnings per common share 1,086,453 1,079,475 1,084,464 1,077,755 Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities: Shares issuable under convertible securities 10 10 10 10 Shares issuable under incentive compensation plans 6,939 3,082 8,020 4,453 Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted earnings per common share 1,093,402 1,082,567 1,092,494 1,082,218 Basic earnings per common share $ 0.47 0.35 0.90 0.64 Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.46 0.35 0.90 0.64 Our calculation of diluted earnings per common share excludes unvested restricted stock awards that are antidilutive as a result of unrecognized compensation cost. Such shares were 2.2 million and 8.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 1.2 million and 5.7 million for six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Fair Value of Financial Instrum

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Jun. 30, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments Our financial instruments consist of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other obligations, and interest rate swap contracts. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying amounts of our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair values. The three input levels in the hierarchy of fair value measurements defined by the FASB generally as follows: Input Level Description of Input Level 1 Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets. Level 2 Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable. Level 3 Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists. The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial liabilities as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Input Carrying Fair Carrying Fair (Dollars in millions) Long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other obligations 2 $ 30,848 32,085 31,542 33,217 Interest rate swap contracts (see Note 10) 2 $ 67 67 107 107

Derivative Financial Instrument

Derivative Financial Instruments	6 Months Ended
Derivative Financial Instruments	Jun. 30, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial Instruments From time to time, we use derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swaps, to manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. Our primary objective in managing interest rate risk is to decrease the volatility of our earnings and cash flows affected by changes in the underlying rates. We have floating rate long-term debt (see Note 5—Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities). These obligations expose us to variability in interest payments due to changes in interest rates. If interest rates increase, interest expense increases. Conversely, if interest rates decrease, interest expense also decreases. We have designated our currently outstanding interest rate swap agreements as cash flow hedges. As described further below, under these hedges, we receive variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for us making fixed-rate payments over the lives of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. The change in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements is reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") and, as described below, is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged transaction affects earnings by virtue of qualifying as effective cash flow hedges. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we evaluated the effectiveness of our hedges quantitatively and any hedges we had entered into at the time qualified as effective hedge relationships. We may be exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties. The counterparties to any of the financial derivatives we enter into are major institutions with investment grade credit ratings. We evaluate counterparty credit risk before entering into any hedge transaction and continue to closely monitor the financial market and the risk that our counterparties will default on their obligations as part of our quarterly qualitative effectiveness evaluation. Amounts accumulated in AOCI related to derivatives are indirectly recognized in earnings as periodic settlement payments are made throughout the term of the swaps. The table below presents the fair value of our derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, as follows (in millions): June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Derivatives designated as Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Cash flow hedging contracts Other current and noncurrent liabilities $ 67 107 The amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCI consists of the following (in millions): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 2021 2020 Cash flow hedging contracts Three Months Ended June 30, $ — 10 Six Months Ended June 30, $ — 116 The amount of realized losses reclassified from AOCI to the statement of operations consists of the following (in millions): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 2021 2020 Cash flow hedging contracts Three Months Ended June 30, $ 21 16 Six Months Ended June 30, $ 41 21

Segment Information

Segment Information	6 Months Ended
Segment Information	Jun. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information Jeff Storey, our chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), made changes to our segment and customer-facing sales channel reporting categories beginning in 2021 to align with operational changes designed to better support our customers. Following these changes, we now report two segments: Business and Mass Markets. The Business segment includes four sales channels: International and Global Accounts, Large Enterprise, Mid-Market Enterprise and Wholesale. These changes also include both the creation of new product categories and the realignment of products and services within previously reported product categories to better reflect product life cycles and our go-to-market approach. For Business segment revenue, we report the following product categories: Compute and Application Services, IP and Data Services, Fiber Infrastructure Services and Voice and Other, by the sales channels outlined above. For Mass Markets segment revenue, we report the following product categories: Consumer Broadband, SBG Broadband, Voice and Other and CAF II. See detailed descriptions of these product and service categories in Note 3—Revenue Recognition. As described in more detail below, our segments are managed based on the direct costs of providing services to their customers and the associated selling, general and administrative costs (primarily salaries and commissions). Shared costs are managed separately and included in "Operations and Other" in the tables below. As referenced above, we reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. See Note 1— Background for additional detail on these changes. At June 30, 2021, we had the following two reportable segments: • Business Segment: Under our Business segment, we provide our products and services under four distinct sales channels to meet the needs of our enterprise and commercial customers; and • Mass Markets Segment: Under our Mass Markets segment, we provide products and services to consumer and small business customers. The following tables summarize our segment results for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, based on the segment categorization we were operating under at June 30, 2021. Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 3,522 1,402 4,924 — 4,924 Expenses: Cost of services and products 862 39 901 1,214 2,115 Selling, general and administrative 298 150 448 314 762 Less: share-based compensation — — — (42) (42) Total expense 1,160 189 1,349 1,486 2,835 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 2,362 1,213 3,575 (1,486) 2,089 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 3,717 1,475 5,192 — 5,192 Expenses: Cost of services and products 919 48 967 1,265 2,232 Selling, general and administrative 334 144 478 417 895 Less: share-based compensation — — — (20) (20) Total expense 1,253 192 1,445 1,662 3,107 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 2,464 1,283 3,747 (1,662) 2,085 The following tables summarize our segment results for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, based on the segment categorization we were operating under at June 30, 2021. Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 7,117 2,836 9,953 — 9,953 Expenses: Cost of services and products 1,743 82 1,825 2,426 4,251 Selling, general and administrative 604 283 887 631 1,518 Less: share-based compensation — — — (62) (62) Total expense 2,347 365 2,712 2,995 5,707 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 4,770 2,471 7,241 (2,995) 4,246 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 7,454 2,966 10,420 — 10,420 Expenses: Cost of services and products 1,826 97 1,923 2,544 4,467 Selling, general and administrative 676 284 960 788 1,748 Less: share-based compensation — — — (89) (89) Total expense 2,502 381 2,883 3,243 6,126 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 4,952 2,585 7,537 (3,243) 4,294 Revenue and Expenses Our segment revenue includes all revenue from our two segments as described in more detail above. Our segment revenue is based upon each customer's classification. We report our segment revenue based upon all services provided to that segment's customers. Our segment expenses include specific cost of service expenses incurred as a direct result of providing services and products to segment customers, along with selling, general and administrative expenses that are directly associated with specific segment customers or activities. The following items are excluded from our segment results, because they are centrally managed and not monitored by or reported to our CODM by segment: • network expenses not incurred as a direct result of providing services and products to segment customers; • centrally managed expenses such as Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing, Product Management and IT, which are reported as "Operations and Other"; • depreciation and amortization expense or impairments; • interest expense, because we manage our financing on a consolidated basis and have not allocated assets or debt to specific segments; • stock-based compensation; and • other income and expense items are not monitored as a part of our segment operations. The following table reconciles total segment adjusted EBITDA to net income: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions) (Dollars in millions) Total segment adjusted EBITDA $ 3,575 3,747 7,241 7,537 Depreciation and amortization (1,041) (1,162) (2,191) (2,322) Other operating expenses (1,486) (1,662) (2,995) (3,243) Stock-based compensation (42) (20) (62) (89) Operating income 1,006 903 1,993 1,883 Total other expense, net (332) (390) (687) (937) Income before income taxes 674 513 1,306 946 Income tax expense 168 136 325 255 Net income $ 506 377 981 691

Commitments and Contingencies a

Commitments and Contingencies and Other Items	6 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies and Other Items	Jun. 30, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies and Other Items	Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items We are subject to various claims, legal proceedings and other contingent liabilities, including the matters described below, which individually or in the aggregate could materially affect our financial condition, future results of operations or cash flows. As a matter of course, we are prepared to both litigate these matters to judgment as needed, as well as to evaluate and consider reasonable settlement opportunities. Irrespective of its merits, litigation may be both lengthy and disruptive to our operations and could cause significant expenditure and diversion of management attention. We review our litigation accrual liabilities on a quarterly basis, but in accordance with applicable accounting guidelines only establish accrual liabilities when losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable and only revise previously-established accrual liabilities when warranted by changes in circumstances, in each case based on then-available information. As such, as of any given date we could have exposure to losses under proceedings as to which no liability has been accrued or as to which the accrued liability is inadequate. Amounts accrued for our litigation and non-income tax contingencies at June 30, 2021 aggregated to approximately $115 million and are included in other current liabilities and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet as of such date. The establishment of an accrual does not mean that actual funds have been set aside to satisfy a given contingency. Thus, the resolution of a particular contingency for the amount accrued could have no effect on our results of operations but nonetheless could have an adverse effect on our cash flows. In this Note, when we refer to a class action as "putative" it is because a class has been alleged, but not certified, in that matter. Principal Proceedings Shareholder Class Action Suit Lumen and certain Lumen Board of Directors members and officers were named as defendants in a putative shareholder class action lawsuit filed on June 12, 2018 in the Boulder County District Court of the state of Colorado, captioned Houser et al. v. CenturyLink, et al. The complaint asserts claims on behalf of a putative class of former Level 3 shareholders who became CenturyLink, Inc. shareholders as a result of our acquisition of Level 3. It alleges that the proxy statement provided to the Level 3 shareholders failed to disclose various material information of several kinds, including information about strategic revenue, customer loss rates, and customer account issues, among other items. The complaint seeks damages, costs and fees, rescission, rescissory damages, and other equitable relief. In May 2020, the court dismissed the complaint. Plaintiffs appealed that decision, and the appeal is pending. State Tax Suits Since 2012, a number of Missouri municipalities have asserted claims in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, alleging that we and several of our subsidiaries have underpaid taxes. These municipalities are seeking, among other things, declaratory relief regarding the application of business license and gross receipts taxes and back taxes from 2007 to the present, plus penalties and interest. In a February 2017 ruling in connection with one of these pending cases, the court entered an order awarding plaintiffs $4 million and broadening the tax base on a going-forward basis. We appealed that decision to the Missouri Supreme Court. In December 2019, it affirmed the circuit court's order in some respects and reversed it in others, remanding the case to the circuit court for further proceedings. The Missouri Supreme Court's decision reduced our exposure in the case. In a June 2021 ruling in one of the pending cases, another trial court awarded the cities of Columbia and Joplin approximately $55 million, plus statutory interest. We have appealed that decision to the Missouri Court of Appeals. That appeal is pending. If the trial court’s decision is not overturned or modified in light of the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision, it will result in a tax liability to us in excess of the reserved accruals established for these matters. We continue to vigorously defend against these claims. Billing Practices Suits In June 2017, a former employee filed an employment lawsuit against us claiming that she was wrongfully terminated for alleging that we charged some of our retail customers for products and services they did not authorize. Thereafter, based in part on the allegations made by the former employee, several legal proceedings were filed, including consumer class actions in federal and state courts, a series of securities investor class actions in federal courts and several shareholder derivative actions in federal and Louisiana state courts. The derivative cases were brought on behalf of CenturyLink, Inc. against certain current and former officers and directors of the Company and seek damages for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The consumer class actions, the securities investor class actions, and the federal derivative actions were transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota for coordinated and consolidated pretrial proceedings as In Re: CenturyLink Sales Practices and Securities Litigation. We have settled the consumer and securities investor class actions. The consumer class settlement was previously approved by the Court and is final. The shareholder class settlement was approved by the Court in July 2021. Approximately 12,000 potential class members elected to opt out of the consumer class settlement, and we have settled the claims of approximately 11,000 such class members asserted by one law firm subject to certain conditions. The derivative actions remain pending. We have engaged in discussions regarding related claims with a number of state attorneys general, and have entered into agreements settling certain of the consumer practices claims asserted by state attorneys general. While we do not agree with allegations raised in these matters, we have been willing to consider reasonable settlements where appropriate. Peruvian Tax Litigation In 2005, the Peruvian tax authorities ("SUNAT") issued tax assessments against one of our Peruvian subsidiaries asserting $26 million of additional income tax withholding and value-added taxes ("VAT"), penalties and interest for calendar years 2001 and 2002 on the basis that the Peruvian subsidiary incorrectly documented its importations. In May 2021, the Company paid the remaining amount on the fractioning regimes entered into by the Company to pay the amount assessed while it was appealed. We challenged the assessments via administrative and then judicial review processes. In October 2011, the highest administrative review tribunal (the Tribunal) decided the central issue underlying the 2002 assessments in SUNAT's favor. We appealed the Tribunal's decision to the first judicial level, which decided the central issue in favor of Level 3. SUNAT and the Company filed cross-appeals with the court of appeal. In May 2017, the court of appeal issued a decision reversing the first judicial level. In June 2017, we filed an appeal of the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice, the final judicial level. Oral argument was held before the Supreme Court of Justice in October 2018. A decision on this case is pending. In October 2013, the Tribunal decided the central issue underlying the 2001 assessments in SUNAT’s favor. We appealed that decision to the first judicial level in Peru, which decided the central issue in favor of SUNAT. In June 2017, we filed an appeal with the court of appeal. In November 2017, the court of appeals issued a decision affirming the first judicial level and we filed an appeal of the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice. Oral argument was held before the Supreme Court of Justice in June 2019. In May 2021, the Company was served with a favorable and final decision from the Supreme Court of Justice. Brazilian Tax Claims The São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro state tax authorities have issued tax assessments against our Brazilian subsidiaries for the Tax on Distribution of Goods and Services (“ICMS”), mainly with respect to revenue from leasing certain assets and revenue from the provision of Internet access services by treating such activities as the provision of communications services, to which the ICMS tax applies. We filed objections to these assessments in both states, arguing, among other things that neither the lease of assets nor the provision of Internet access qualifies as “communication services” subject to ICMS. We have appealed to the respective state judicial courts the decisions by the respective state administrative courts that rejected our objections to these assessments. In cases in which state lower courts ruled partially in our favor finding that the lease assets are not subject to ICMS in connection, the State appealed those rulings. In other cases, the assessment was affirmed at the first administrative level and we have appealed to the second administrative level. Other assessments are still pending state judicial decisions. We are vigorously contesting all such assessments in both states and view the assessment of ICMS on revenue from equipment leasing and Internet access to be without merit. These assessments, if upheld, could result in a loss of up to $53 million as of June 30, 2021, in excess of the reserved accruals established for these matters. Qui Tam Action Level 3 was notified in late 2017 of a qui tam action pending against Level 3 Communications, Inc. and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, captioned United States of America ex rel., Stephen Bishop v. Level 3 Communications, Inc. et al. The original qui tam complaint and an amended complaint were filed under seal on November 26, 2013 and June 16, 2014, respectively. The court unsealed the complaints on October 26, 2017. The amended complaint alleged that Level 3, principally through two former employees, submitted false claims and made false statements to the government in connection with two government contracts. The relator sought damages in this lawsuit of approximately $50 million. The case was settled in the second quarter of 2021 for an immaterial amount. Other Proceedings, Disputes and Contingencies From time to time, we are involved in other proceedings incidental to our business, including patent infringement allegations, regulatory hearings relating primarily to our rates or services, actions relating to employee claims, various tax issues, environmental law issues, grievance hearings before labor regulatory agencies and miscellaneous third-party tort actions. We are currently defending several patent infringement lawsuits asserted against us by non-practicing entities, many of which are seeking substantial recoveries. These cases have progressed to various stages and one or more may go to trial during 2021 if they are not otherwise resolved. Where applicable, we are seeking full or partial indemnification from our vendors and suppliers. As with all litigation, we are vigorously defending these actions and, as a matter of course, are prepared to litigate these matters to judgment, as well as to evaluate and consider all reasonable settlement opportunities. We are subject to various foreign, federal, state and local environmental protection and health and safety laws. From time to time, we are subject to judicial and administrative proceedings brought by various governmental authorities under these laws. Several such proceedings are currently pending, but none is reasonably expected to exceed $300,000 in fines and penalties. The outcome of these other proceedings described under this heading is not predictable. However, based on current circumstances, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these other proceedings, after considering available defenses and any insurance coverage or indemnification rights, will have a material adverse effect on us. The matters listed above in this Note do not reflect all of our contingencies. For additional information on our contingencies, see Note 17—Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items to the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The ultimate outcome of the above-described matters may differ materially from the outcomes anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in certain of our statements appearing above in this Note, and proceedings currently viewed as immaterial by us may ultimately materially impact us.

Other Financial Information

Other Financial Information	6 Months Ended
Other Financial Information	Jun. 30, 2021
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Financial Information	Other Financial Information Other Current Assets The following table presents details of other current assets reflected in our consolidated balance sheets: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Prepaid expenses $ 369 290 Income tax receivable 12 7 Materials, supplies and inventory 114 105 Contract assets 53 66 Contract acquisition costs 168 173 Contract fulfillment costs 118 114 Other 72 53 Total other current assets $ 906 808

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	6 Months Ended
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Jun. 30, 2021
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Information Relating to 2021 The table below summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded on our consolidated balance sheet by component for the six months ended June 30, 2021: Pension Plans Post-Retirement Foreign Currency Interest Rate Swap Total (Dollars in millions) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ (2,197) (272) (265) (79) (2,813) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications — — (6) — (6) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 71 7 — 31 109 Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 71 7 (6) 31 103 Balance at June 30, 2021 $ (2,126) (265) (271) (48) (2,710) The tables below present further information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 21 Interest expense Income tax benefit (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 16 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 50 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 1 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 51 Income tax benefit (12) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 39 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 41 Interest expense Income tax benefit (10) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 31 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 100 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 3 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 103 Income tax benefit (25) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 78 (1) See Note 7—Employee Benefits for additional information on our net periodic benefit (income) expense related to our pension and post-retirement plans. Information Relating to 2020 The table below summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded on our consolidated balance sheets by component for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 : Pension Plans Post-Retirement Foreign Currency Interest Rate Swap Total (Dollars in millions) Balance at December 31, 2019 $ (2,229) (184) (228) (39) (2,680) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications — — (230) (88) (318) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 74 6 — 16 96 Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 74 6 (230) (72) (222) Balance at June 30, 2020 $ (2,155) (178) (458) (111) (2,902) The tables below present further information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the six months ended June 30, 2020: Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 16 Interest expense Income tax expense (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 11 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 52 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 3 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 55 Income tax benefit (14) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 41 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 21 Interest expense Income tax expense (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 16 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 102 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 4 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 106 Income tax benefit (26) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 80 (1) See Note 7—Employee Benefits for additional information on our net periodic benefit (expense) income related to our pension and post-retirement plans.

Labor Union Contracts

Labor Union Contracts	6 Months Ended
Labor Union Contracts	Jun. 30, 2021
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]
Labor Union Contracts	Labor Union ContractsAs of June 30, 2021, approximately 22% of our employees were represented by the Communication Workers of America ("CWA") or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ("IBEW"). Approximately 5% of our union-represented employees were subject to collective bargaining agreements that expired as of June 30, 2021 and are currently being renegotiated. Approximately 8% of our represented employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements that are scheduled to expire over the 12 month period ending June 30, 2022.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	6 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Jun. 30, 2021
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent EventsOn July 25, 2021, affiliates of Level 3 Parent, LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Lumen Technologies, Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to divest Lumen’s Latin American business to an affiliate of a fund advised by Stonepeak Partners LP in exchange for $2.735 billion cash, subject to certain working capital and other purchase price adjustments. Level 3 Parent, LLC expects to close the transaction in the first half of 2022, upon receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals in the U.S. and certain countries where the Latin American business operates, as well as the satisfaction of other customary conditions. We have not yet determined the final pre-tax gain or loss on the transaction as a result of various allocations which will be required in connection with consummating the transaction and related restructuring transactions. The purchase agreement contains various customary covenants for transactions of this type, including various indemnities. On August 3, 2021, Lumen and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a definitive agreement to divest their incumbent local exchange business conducted within 20 Midwestern and Southern states to an affiliate of funds advised by Apollo Global Management, Inc. In exchange, Lumen and its subsidiaries would receive $7.5 billion, subject to (i) offsets for assumed indebtedness (expected to be approximately $1.4 billion) and certain of purchaser’s transaction expenses (estimated to be approximately $245 million) and (ii) working capital and other customary purchase price adjustments. Lumen expects to close the transaction in the second half of 2022 upon receipt of all regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. We have not yet determined the final pre-tax gain or loss on the transaction as a result of various allocations which will be required in connection with consummating the transaction and related restructuring transactions. The definitive purchase agreement contains various customary covenants for transactions of this type, including certain limited indemnities. In August 2021, our Board of Directors authorized a new 24-month program to repurchase up to an aggregate of $1.0 billion of our outstanding common stock. This new stock repurchase program took effect on August 3, 2021, immediately upon the public announcement thereof. As of August 4, 2021, we had not repurchased any shares of common stock under this new program.

Background (Policies)

Background (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Background (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2021
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, which was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, and our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements provided herein have been prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). However, in our opinion, the disclosures made therein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We believe these consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the results for the interim periods. The consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the first six months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations and cash flows that might be expected for the entire year. These consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries in which we have a controlling interest. Intercompany amounts and transactions with our consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated. To simplify the overall presentation of our consolidated financial statements, we report immaterial amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests in certain of our subsidiaries as follows: (i) income attributable to noncontrolling interests in other income (expense), net, (ii) equity attributable to noncontrolling interests in additional paid-in capital and (iii) cash flows attributable to noncontrolling interests in other, net, financing activities.
Reclassification	We reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation, including the categorization of our revenue and expenses in our segment reporting. See Note 11—Segment Information for additional information. These changes had no impact on total operating revenue, total operating expenses or net income for any period.
Operating Leases	Operating lease assets are included in other, net under goodwill and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Noncurrent operating lease liabilities are included in other under deferred credits and other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.
Operating Lease Revenue	Operating Lease Revenue Lumen Technologies leases various dark fiber, office facilities, colocation facilities, switching facilities, other network sites and service equipment to third parties under operating leases. Lease and sublease income are included in operating revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Debt On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2020-09, " Debt (Topic 470) Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Release No. 33-10762 " ("ASU 2020-09"). This ASU amends and supersedes various SEC paragraphs to reflect SEC Release No. 33-10762, which includes amendments to the financial disclosure requirements applicable to registered debt offerings that include credit enhancements, such as subsidiary guarantees. The adoption of ASU 2020-09 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. Investments On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2020-01, " Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) - Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815) " ("ASU 2020-01"). This ASU, among other things, clarifies that a company should consider observable transactions that require a company to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting under Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, for the purposes of applying the measurement alternative in accordance with Topic 321 immediately before applying or upon discontinuing the equity method. As of June 30, 2021, we determined there was no application or discontinuation of the equity method during the reporting periods. The adoption of ASU 2020-01 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. Income taxes On January 1, 2021, we adopted ASU 2019-12, " Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740) " ("ASU 2019-12"). This ASU removes certain exceptions for investments, intra-period allocations and interim calculations, and adds guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements. Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments We adopted ASU 2016-13, " Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments " ("ASU 2016-13") on January 1, 2020 and recognized a cumulative adjustment to our accumulated deficit as of the date of adoption of $9 million, net of tax effect of $2 million. Please refer to Note 4—Credit Losses on Financial Instruments for more information. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, " Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope " ("ASU 2021-01"), which clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. ASU 2021-01 also amends the expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 to capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and to tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. ASU 2021-01 provides option guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. Based on our review of our key material contracts through June 30, 2021, we do not expect ASU 2021-01 to have any material impact on the consolidated financial statements. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, " Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting " ("ASU 2020-04" or "Reference Rate Reform"), designed to ease the burden of accounting for contract modifications related to the global market-wide reference rate transition period. Subject to certain criteria, ASU 2020-04 provides qualifying entities the option to apply expedients and exceptions to contract modifications and hedging accounting relationships made until December 31, 2022. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. ASU 2020-04 provides optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. Based on our review of our key material contracts through June 30, 2021, we do not expect ASU 2020-04 to have any material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill, Customer Relationsh_2

Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill	Goodwill, customer relationships and other intangible assets consisted of the following: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Goodwill $ 18,867 18,870 Indefinite-life intangible assets $ 9 278 Other intangible assets subject to amortization: Customer relationships, less accumulated amortization of $11,546 and $11,060 5,856 6,344 Capitalized software, less accumulated amortization of $3,432 and $3,279 1,481 1,520 Trade names, patents and other, less accumulated amortization of $149 and $120 317 77 Total other intangible assets, net $ 7,663 8,219
Schedule of Goodwill	The following table shows the rollforward of goodwill assigned to our reportable segments, including the reorganization, from December 31, 2020 through June 30, 2021: International and Global Accounts Enterprise Small and Medium Business Wholesale Consumer Business Mass Markets Total (Dollars in millions) As of December 31, 2020 (1) $ 2,555 4,738 2,808 3,114 5,655 — — 18,870 January 2021 reorganization (2,555) (4,738) (2,808) (3,114) (5,655) 12,173 6,697 — Effect of foreign currency exchange rate change and other — — — — — (3) — (3) As of June 30, 2021 (1) $ — — — — — 12,170 6,697 18,867 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) Goodwill at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 is net of accumulated impairment losses of $12.9 billion.
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	We estimate that total amortization expense for intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2021 through 2025 will be as follows: (Dollars in millions) 2021 (remaining six months) $ 597 2022 1,087 2023 991 2024 893 2025 803

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

Revenue Recognition (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Revenue Recognition (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Schedule of Revenue	The following tables provide total revenue by segment, sales channel and product category. It also provides the amount of revenue that is not subject to ASC 606, " Revenue from Contracts with Customers " ("ASC 606"), but is instead governed by other accounting standards: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) Business Segment by Sales Channel and Product Category International and Global Accounts ("IGAM") Compute and Application Services $ 179 (70) 109 192 (64) 128 IP and Data Services 427 — 427 432 — 432 Fiber Infrastructure Services 216 (32) 184 202 (28) 174 Voice and Other 182 — 182 205 — 205 Total IGAM Revenue 1,004 (102) 902 1,031 (92) 939 Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) Large Enterprise Compute and Application Services 172 (16) 156 160 (22) 138 IP and Data Services 388 — 388 400 (1) 399 Fiber Infrastructure Services 127 (12) 115 136 (13) 123 Voice and Other 244 — 244 277 — 277 Total Large Enterprise Revenue 931 (28) 903 973 (36) 937 Mid-Market Enterprise Compute and Application Services 36 (8) 28 35 (3) 32 IP and Data Services 438 (2) 436 463 (1) 462 Fiber Infrastructure Services 53 (2) 51 57 (3) 54 Voice and Other 155 — 155 200 — 200 Total Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue 682 (12) 670 755 (7) 748 Wholesale Compute and Application Services 49 (41) 8 45 (39) 6 IP and Data Services 297 — 297 313 — 313 Fiber Infrastructure Services 155 (28) 127 152 (30) 122 Voice and Other 404 (62) 342 448 (65) 383 Total Wholesale Revenue 905 (131) 774 958 (134) 824 Business Segment by Product Category Compute and Application Services 436 (135) 301 432 (128) 304 IP and Data Services 1,550 (2) 1,548 1,608 (2) 1,606 Fiber Infrastructure Services 551 (74) 477 547 (74) 473 Voice and Other 985 (62) 923 1,130 (65) 1,065 Total Business Segment Revenue $ 3,522 (273) 3,249 3,717 (269) 3,448 Mass Markets Segment by Product Category Consumer Broadband $ 723 (53) 670 726 (55) 671 SBG Broadband 39 (4) 35 39 (5) 34 Voice and Other 518 (19) 499 587 (29) 558 CAF II 122 (122) — 123 (123) — Total Mass Markets Segment $ 1,402 (198) 1,204 1,475 (212) 1,263 Total Revenue $ 4,924 (471) 4,453 5,192 (481) 4,711 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) Business Segment by Sales Channel and Product Category International and Global Accounts ("IGAM") Compute and Application Services $ 358 (139) 219 393 (133) 260 IP and Data Services 854 — 854 869 — 869 Fiber Infrastructure Services 432 (62) 370 404 (54) 350 Voice and Other 373 — 373 406 — 406 Total IGAM Revenue 2,017 (201) 1,816 2,072 (187) 1,885 Large Enterprise Compute and Application Services 337 (31) 306 314 (39) 275 IP and Data Services 783 — 783 801 (1) 800 Fiber Infrastructure Services 251 (27) 224 274 (23) 251 Voice and Other 497 — 497 550 — 550 Total Large Enterprise Revenue 1,868 (58) 1,810 1,939 (63) 1,876 Mid-Market Enterprise Compute and Application Services 72 (16) 56 69 (11) 58 IP and Data Services 891 (3) 888 929 (2) 927 Fiber Infrastructure Services 113 (4) 109 111 (7) 104 Voice and Other 322 — 322 407 — 407 Total Mid-Market Enterprise Revenue 1,398 (23) 1,375 1,516 (20) 1,496 Wholesale Compute and Application Services 97 (81) 16 91 (79) 12 IP and Data Services 602 — 602 631 — 631 Fiber Infrastructure Services 309 (59) 250 305 (60) 245 Voice and Other 826 (125) 701 900 (133) 767 Total Wholesale Revenue 1,834 (265) 1,569 1,927 (272) 1,655 Business Segment by Product Category Compute and Application Services 864 (267) 597 867 (262) 605 IP and Data Services 3,130 (3) 3,127 3,230 (3) 3,227 Fiber Infrastructure Services 1,105 (152) 953 1,094 (144) 950 Voice and Other 2,018 (125) 1,893 2,263 (133) 2,130 Total Business Segment Revenue $ 7,117 (547) 6,570 7,454 (542) 6,912 Mass Markets Segment by Product Category Consumer Broadband $ 1,454 (105) 1,349 1,448 (108) 1,340 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers Total revenue Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue (1) Total revenue from contracts with customers (Dollars in millions) SBG Broadband 78 (8) 70 78 (8) 70 Voice and Other 1,059 (40) 1,019 1,194 (58) 1,136 CAF II 245 (245) — 246 (246) — Total Mass Markets Segment $ 2,836 (398) 2,438 2,966 (420) 2,546 Total Revenue $ 9,953 (945) 9,008 10,420 (962) 9,458 _____________________________________________________________________ (1) Includes regulatory revenue and lease revenue not within the scope of ASC 606.
Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability	The following table provides balances of customer receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Customer receivables (1) $ 1,830 1,889 Contract assets 85 108 Contract liabilities 876 950 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) Reflects gross customer receivables of $2.0 billion and $2.1 billion, net of allowance for credit losses of $137 million and $174 million, at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Capitalized Contract Cost	The following tables provide changes in our contract acquisition costs and fulfillment costs: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs (Dollars in millions) (Dollars in millions) Beginning of period balance $ 279 216 320 220 Costs incurred 45 38 36 34 Amortization (53) (37) (56) (35) End of period balance $ 271 217 300 219 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs Acquisition Costs Fulfillment Costs (Dollars in millions) (Dollars in millions) Beginning of period balance $ 289 216 326 221 Costs incurred 89 75 85 70 Amortization (107) (74) (111) (72) End of period balance $ 271 217 300 219

Credit Losses on Financial In_2

Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Credit Loss [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	The following table presents the activity of our allowance for credit losses by accounts receivable portfolio for the six months ended June 30, 2021: Business Mass Markets Total (Dollars in millions) Beginning balance at January 1, 2021 (1) $ 109 82 191 Provision for expected losses 21 32 53 Write-offs charged against the allowance (35) (82) (117) Recoveries collected 8 17 25 Ending balance at June 30, 2021 $ 103 49 152 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) As described in Note 11—Segment Information, we completed an internal reorganization in January 2021. As a result of this change, allowance for credit losses previously included in the Consumer and Business portfolio of $70 million related to consumer and $12 million related to our small business group, respectively, were reclassified to the Mass Markets allowance for credit losses on January 1, 2021.

Long-Term Debt and Credit Fac_2

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Including Unamortized Discounts and Premiums	The following chart reflects the consolidated long-term debt of Lumen Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including unamortized discounts and premiums, net and unamortized debt issuance costs, but excluding intercompany debt: Interest Rates (1) Maturities (1) June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Senior Secured Debt: (2) Lumen Technologies, Inc. Revolving Credit Facility (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2025 $ — 150 Term Loan A (3) (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2025 1,079 1,108 Term Loan A-1 (3) (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2025 308 316 Term Loan B (4) (7) LIBOR + 2.25% 2027 4,925 4,950 Senior notes 4.000% 2027 1,250 1,250 Subsidiaries: Level 3 Financing, Inc. Tranche B 2027 Term Loan (5) (7) LIBOR + 1.75% 2027 3,111 3,111 Senior notes 3.400% - 3.875% 2027 - 2029 1,500 1,500 Embarq Corporation subsidiaries First mortgage bonds 7.125% - 8.375% 2023 - 2025 138 138 Senior Notes and Other Debt: Lumen Technologies, Inc. Senior notes 4.500% - 7.650% 2022 - 2042 8,414 8,645 Subsidiaries: Level 3 Financing, Inc. Senior notes 3.625% - 5.375% 2025 - 2029 5,515 5,515 Qwest Corporation Senior notes 6.500% - 7.750% 2021 - 2057 2,935 3,170 Term Loan (6) (7) LIBOR + 2.00% 2027 215 215 Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. Senior notes 6.875% - 7.750% 2021 - 2031 352 352 Embarq Corporation and subsidiary Senior note 7.995% 2036 1,437 1,437 Finance lease and other obligations Various Various 321 295 Unamortized discounts, net (96) (78) Unamortized debt issuance costs (235) (237) Total long-term debt 31,169 31,837 Less current maturities (2,595) (2,427) Long-term debt, excluding current maturities $ 28,574 29,410 ______________________________________________________________________ (1) As of June 30, 2021. (2) See Note 6—Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 for a description of certain parent or subsidiary guarantees and liens securing this debt. (3) Term Loans A and A-1 had interest rates of 2.104% and 2.147% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (4) Term Loan B had interest rates of 2.354% and 2.397% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (5) The Tranche B 2027 Term Loan had interest rates of 1.854% and 1.897% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (6) Qwest Corporation Term Loan had interest rates of 2.110% and 2.150% as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. (7) See Note 1— Background for our considerations of the impact of Reference Rate Reform on our debt subject to rate reference changes from LIBOR.
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	Set forth below is the aggregate principal amount of our long-term debt as of June 30, 2021 (excluding unamortized discounts, net, and unamortized debt issuance costs), maturing during the following years: (Dollars in millions) 2021 (remaining six months) $ 1,127 2022 1,542 2023 966 2024 1,143 2025 2,908 2026 and thereafter 23,814 Total long-term debt $ 31,500

Severance (Tables)

Severance (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Severance (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]
Schedule of Changes in Accrued Liabilities for Severance Expenses	Changes in our accrued liabilities for severance expenses were as follows: Severance (Dollars in millions) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 103 Accrued to expense — Payments, net (51) Balance at June 30, 2021 $ 52

Employee Benefits (Tables)

Employee Benefits (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Employee Benefits (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Pension Benefit (Income) Expense and Post-retirement Benefit Expense	Net periodic benefit income for the Lumen Combined Pension Plan ("Combined Pension Plan") includes the following components: Combined Pension Plan Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions) Service cost $ 15 13 28 29 Interest cost 49 80 99 162 Expected return on plan assets (138) (149) (276) (298) Recognition of prior service credit (3) (1) (5) (4) Recognition of actuarial loss 49 52 98 102 Net periodic pension benefit income $ (28) (5) (56) (9) Net periodic benefit expense for our post-retirement benefit plans includes the following components: Post-Retirement Benefit Plans Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions) Service cost $ 3 3 7 7 Interest cost 11 20 23 40 Recognition of prior service cost 4 4 8 8 Recognition of actuarial loss 1 — 2 — Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense $ 19 27 40 55

Earnings Per Common Share (Tabl

Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share	Basic and diluted earnings per common share were calculated as follows: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts, shares in thousands) Income (Numerator): Net income $ 506 377 981 691 Net income applicable to common stock for computing basic earnings per common share 506 377 981 691 Net income as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted earnings per common share $ 506 377 981 691 Shares (Denominator): Weighted-average number of shares: Outstanding during period 1,105,403 1,097,586 1,102,877 1,095,278 Non-vested restricted stock (18,950) (18,111) (18,413) (17,523) Weighted-average shares outstanding for computing basic earnings per common share 1,086,453 1,079,475 1,084,464 1,077,755 Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities: Shares issuable under convertible securities 10 10 10 10 Shares issuable under incentive compensation plans 6,939 3,082 8,020 4,453 Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted earnings per common share 1,093,402 1,082,567 1,092,494 1,082,218 Basic earnings per common share $ 0.47 0.35 0.90 0.64 Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.46 0.35 0.90 0.64

Fair Value of Financial Instr_2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Values of Long-term Debt, Excluding Capital Lease Obligations, and Input Level to Determine Fair Values	The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our financial liabilities as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Input Carrying Fair Carrying Fair (Dollars in millions) Long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other obligations 2 $ 30,848 32,085 31,542 33,217 Interest rate swap contracts (see Note 10) 2 $ 67 67 107 107

Derivative Financial Instrume_2

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value	The table below presents the fair value of our derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, as follows (in millions): June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Derivatives designated as Balance Sheet Location Fair Value Cash flow hedging contracts Other current and noncurrent liabilities $ 67 107
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)	The amount of unrealized losses recognized in AOCI consists of the following (in millions): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 2021 2020 Cash flow hedging contracts Three Months Ended June 30, $ — 10 Six Months Ended June 30, $ — 116
Schedule of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) by Component	The amount of realized losses reclassified from AOCI to the statement of operations consists of the following (in millions): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 2021 2020 Cash flow hedging contracts Three Months Ended June 30, $ 21 16 Six Months Ended June 30, $ 41 21 The tables below present further information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 21 Interest expense Income tax benefit (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 16 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 50 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 1 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 51 Income tax benefit (12) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 39 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 41 Interest expense Income tax benefit (10) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 31 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 100 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 3 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 103 Income tax benefit (25) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 78 (1) See Note 7—Employee Benefits for additional information on our net periodic benefit (income) expense related to our pension and post-retirement plans. The tables below present further information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the six months ended June 30, 2020: Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 16 Interest expense Income tax expense (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 11 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 52 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 3 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 55 Income tax benefit (14) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 41 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 21 Interest expense Income tax expense (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 16 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 102 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 4 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 106 Income tax benefit (26) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 80 (1) See Note 7—Employee Benefits for additional information on our net periodic benefit (expense) income related to our pension and post-retirement plans.

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Segment Information (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule of Segment Results	The following tables summarize our segment results for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, based on the segment categorization we were operating under at June 30, 2021. Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 3,522 1,402 4,924 — 4,924 Expenses: Cost of services and products 862 39 901 1,214 2,115 Selling, general and administrative 298 150 448 314 762 Less: share-based compensation — — — (42) (42) Total expense 1,160 189 1,349 1,486 2,835 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 2,362 1,213 3,575 (1,486) 2,089 Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 3,717 1,475 5,192 — 5,192 Expenses: Cost of services and products 919 48 967 1,265 2,232 Selling, general and administrative 334 144 478 417 895 Less: share-based compensation — — — (20) (20) Total expense 1,253 192 1,445 1,662 3,107 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 2,464 1,283 3,747 (1,662) 2,085 The following tables summarize our segment results for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, based on the segment categorization we were operating under at June 30, 2021. Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 7,117 2,836 9,953 — 9,953 Expenses: Cost of services and products 1,743 82 1,825 2,426 4,251 Selling, general and administrative 604 283 887 631 1,518 Less: share-based compensation — — — (62) (62) Total expense 2,347 365 2,712 2,995 5,707 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 4,770 2,471 7,241 (2,995) 4,246 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Business Mass Markets Total Segments Operations and Other Total (Dollars in millions) Revenue $ 7,454 2,966 10,420 — 10,420 Expenses: Cost of services and products 1,826 97 1,923 2,544 4,467 Selling, general and administrative 676 284 960 788 1,748 Less: share-based compensation — — — (89) (89) Total expense 2,502 381 2,883 3,243 6,126 Total adjusted EBITDA $ 4,952 2,585 7,537 (3,243) 4,294
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) From Segments to Consolidated Net Income	The following table reconciles total segment adjusted EBITDA to net income: Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 (Dollars in millions) (Dollars in millions) Total segment adjusted EBITDA $ 3,575 3,747 7,241 7,537 Depreciation and amortization (1,041) (1,162) (2,191) (2,322) Other operating expenses (1,486) (1,662) (2,995) (3,243) Stock-based compensation (42) (20) (62) (89) Operating income 1,006 903 1,993 1,883 Total other expense, net (332) (390) (687) (937) Income before income taxes 674 513 1,306 946 Income tax expense 168 136 325 255 Net income $ 506 377 981 691

Other Financial Information (Ta

Other Financial Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Other Financial Information (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Other Current Assets	The following table presents details of other current assets reflected in our consolidated balance sheets: June 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 (Dollars in millions) Prepaid expenses $ 369 290 Income tax receivable 12 7 Materials, supplies and inventory 114 105 Contract assets 53 66 Contract acquisition costs 168 173 Contract fulfillment costs 118 114 Other 72 53 Total other current assets $ 906 808

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2021
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Summary of the Entity's Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) by Component	The table below summarizes changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded on our consolidated balance sheet by component for the six months ended June 30, 2021: Pension Plans Post-Retirement Foreign Currency Interest Rate Swap Total (Dollars in millions) Balance at December 31, 2020 $ (2,197) (272) (265) (79) (2,813) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications — — (6) — (6) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 71 7 — 31 109 Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 71 7 (6) 31 103 Balance at June 30, 2021 $ (2,126) (265) (271) (48) (2,710) Pension Plans Post-Retirement Foreign Currency Interest Rate Swap Total (Dollars in millions) Balance at December 31, 2019 $ (2,229) (184) (228) (39) (2,680) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications — — (230) (88) (318) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 74 6 — 16 96 Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 74 6 (230) (72) (222) Balance at June 30, 2020 $ (2,155) (178) (458) (111) (2,902)
Schedule of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) by Component	The amount of realized losses reclassified from AOCI to the statement of operations consists of the following (in millions): Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 2021 2020 Cash flow hedging contracts Three Months Ended June 30, $ 21 16 Six Months Ended June 30, $ 41 21 The tables below present further information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021: Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 21 Interest expense Income tax benefit (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 16 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 50 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 1 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 51 Income tax benefit (12) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 39 Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 41 Interest expense Income tax benefit (10) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 31 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 100 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 3 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 103 Income tax benefit (25) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 78 (1) See Note 7—Employee Benefits for additional information on our net periodic benefit (income) expense related to our pension and post-retirement plans. The tables below present further information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the six months ended June 30, 2020: Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 16 Interest expense Income tax expense (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 11 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 52 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 3 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 55 Income tax benefit (14) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 41 Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Decrease (Increase) Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of Operations (Dollars in millions) Interest rate swaps $ 21 Interest expense Income tax expense (5) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 16 Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans (1) Net actuarial loss $ 102 Other income (expense), net Prior service cost 4 Other income (expense), net Total before tax 106 Income tax benefit (26) Income tax expense Net of tax $ 80 (1) See Note 7—Employee Benefits for additional information on our net periodic benefit (expense) income related to our pension and post-retirement plans.

Background - Basis of Presentat

Background - Basis of Presentation (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Book overdraft balance	$ 0	$ 0

Background - Accounting Pronoun

Background - Accounting Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Stockholders' equity	$ 11,706	$ 13,462	$ 11,706	$ 13,462			$ 11,162
Income tax expense	168	136	325	255
Accumulated Deficit
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Stockholders' equity	$ (7,050)	$ (6,109)	$ (7,050)	$ (6,109)	$ (6,814)	$ (7,556)	$ (8,031)	$ (6,486)
Accumulated Deficit \| Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Stockholders' equity					9
Income tax expense					$ 2

Goodwill, Customer Relationsh_3

Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Goodwill, Customer Relationships, and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Jan. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 18,867	$ 0	$ 18,870
Indefinite-life intangible assets	9		278
Total other intangible assets, net	7,663		8,219
Customer relationships
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	5,856		6,344
Accumulated amortization	11,546		11,060
Capitalized software
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	1,481		1,520
Accumulated amortization	3,432		3,279
Trade names, patents and other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	317		77
Accumulated amortization	$ 149		$ 120

Goodwill, Customer Relationsh_4

Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details)	Jan. 31, 2021USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2021USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)segment$ / shares	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)$ / shares	Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)$ / shares
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments \| segment					2
Number of operating segments \| segment					2
Impairment loss	$ 0
Intangible assets, gross (including goodwill)			$ 41,700,000,000		$ 41,700,000,000
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets			318,000,000	$ 440,000,000	743,000,000	$ 871,000,000
Net income			$ (506,000,000)	$ (377,000,000)	$ (981,000,000)	$ (691,000,000)
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ (0.47)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.90)	$ (0.64)
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ (0.46)	$ (0.35)	$ (0.90)	$ (0.64)
Reclassification of intangible assets
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets			$ 7,000,000		$ 15,000,000
Net income			$ 5,000,000		$ 11,000,000
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares					$ 0.01
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares					$ 0.01
Reclassification of intangible assets \| Forecast
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets							$ 30,000,000
Net income							$ 23,000,000
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares							$ 0.02
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares							$ 0.02
Reclassification of intangible assets \| Right-of-way
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets		$ 268,000,000
Remaining amortization period		9 years

Goodwill, Customer Relationsh_5

Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets - Rollforward of Goodwill (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
As of beginning of period	$ 18,870
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate change and other	(3)
As of end of period	18,867
Accumulated impairment losses	12,900
International and Global Accounts
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
As of beginning of period	2,555
Enterprise
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
As of beginning of period	4,738
Small and Medium Business
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
As of beginning of period	2,808
Wholesale
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
As of beginning of period	3,114
Consumer
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
As of beginning of period	5,655
Business
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate change and other	(3)
As of end of period	12,170
Mass Markets
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate change and other	0
As of end of period	$ 6,697

Goodwill, Customer Relationsh_6

Goodwill, Customer Relationships and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Amortization Expense (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2021 (remaining six months)	$ 597
2022	1,087
2023	991
2024	893
2025	$ 803

Revenue Recognition - Additiona

Revenue Recognition - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)category	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Lease income \| $	$ 327	$ 333	$ 659	$ 666
Percent of operating revenue	7.00%	6.00%	7.00%	6.00%
Revenue recognized \| $	$ 58	$ 59	$ 483	$ 554
Minimum
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Contract term			1 year
Maximum
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Contract term			5 years
Weighted Average \| Consumer Customers
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Length of customer life			30 months
Weighted Average \| Business Customers
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Length of customer life			30 months
Business
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Number of categories of products and services \| category			4
Mass Markets
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Number of categories of products and services \| category			4

Revenue Recognition - Revenue b

Revenue Recognition - Revenue by Segment, Sales Channel and Product Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 4,924	$ 5,192	$ 9,953	$ 10,420
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(471)	(481)	(945)	(962)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	4,453	4,711	9,008	9,458
Operating Segments
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,924	5,192	9,953	10,420
Operating Segments \| Business
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	3,522	3,717	7,117	7,454
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(273)	(269)	(547)	(542)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	3,249	3,448	6,570	6,912
Operating Segments \| Business \| Compute and Application Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	436	432	864	867
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(135)	(128)	(267)	(262)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	301	304	597	605
Operating Segments \| Business \| IP and Data Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,550	1,608	3,130	3,230
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(2)	(2)	(3)	(3)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	1,548	1,606	3,127	3,227
Operating Segments \| Business \| Fiber Infrastructure Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	551	547	1,105	1,094
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(74)	(74)	(152)	(144)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	477	473	953	950
Operating Segments \| Business \| Voice and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	985	1,130	2,018	2,263
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(62)	(65)	(125)	(133)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	923	1,065	1,893	2,130
Operating Segments \| Business \| International and Global Accounts
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,004	1,031	2,017	2,072
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(102)	(92)	(201)	(187)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	902	939	1,816	1,885
Operating Segments \| Business \| International and Global Accounts \| Compute and Application Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	179	192	358	393
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(70)	(64)	(139)	(133)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	109	128	219	260
Operating Segments \| Business \| International and Global Accounts \| IP and Data Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	427	432	854	869
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	0	0	0	0
Total revenue from contracts with customers	427	432	854	869
Operating Segments \| Business \| International and Global Accounts \| Fiber Infrastructure Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	216	202	432	404
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(32)	(28)	(62)	(54)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	184	174	370	350
Operating Segments \| Business \| International and Global Accounts \| Voice and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	182	205	373	406
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	0	0	0	0
Total revenue from contracts with customers	182	205	373	406
Operating Segments \| Business \| Large Enterprise
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	931	973	1,868	1,939
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(28)	(36)	(58)	(63)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	903	937	1,810	1,876
Operating Segments \| Business \| Large Enterprise \| Compute and Application Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	172	160	337	314
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(16)	(22)	(31)	(39)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	156	138	306	275
Operating Segments \| Business \| Large Enterprise \| IP and Data Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	388	400	783	801
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	0	(1)	0	(1)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	388	399	783	800
Operating Segments \| Business \| Large Enterprise \| Fiber Infrastructure Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	127	136	251	274
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(12)	(13)	(27)	(23)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	115	123	224	251
Operating Segments \| Business \| Large Enterprise \| Voice and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	244	277	497	550
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	0	0	0	0
Total revenue from contracts with customers	244	277	497	550
Operating Segments \| Business \| Mid-Market Enterprise
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	682	755	1,398	1,516
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(12)	(7)	(23)	(20)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	670	748	1,375	1,496
Operating Segments \| Business \| Mid-Market Enterprise \| Compute and Application Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	36	35	72	69
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(8)	(3)	(16)	(11)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	28	32	56	58
Operating Segments \| Business \| Mid-Market Enterprise \| IP and Data Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	438	463	891	929
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	436	462	888	927
Operating Segments \| Business \| Mid-Market Enterprise \| Fiber Infrastructure Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	53	57	113	111
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(2)	(3)	(4)	(7)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	51	54	109	104
Operating Segments \| Business \| Mid-Market Enterprise \| Voice and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	155	200	322	407
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	0	0	0	0
Total revenue from contracts with customers	155	200	322	407
Operating Segments \| Business \| Wholesale
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	905	958	1,834	1,927
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(131)	(134)	(265)	(272)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	774	824	1,569	1,655
Operating Segments \| Business \| Wholesale \| Compute and Application Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	49	45	97	91
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(41)	(39)	(81)	(79)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	8	6	16	12
Operating Segments \| Business \| Wholesale \| IP and Data Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	297	313	602	631
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	0	0	0	0
Total revenue from contracts with customers	297	313	602	631
Operating Segments \| Business \| Wholesale \| Fiber Infrastructure Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	155	152	309	305
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(28)	(30)	(59)	(60)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	127	122	250	245
Operating Segments \| Business \| Wholesale \| Voice and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	404	448	826	900
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(62)	(65)	(125)	(133)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	342	383	701	767
Operating Segments \| Mass Markets
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,402	1,475	2,836	2,966
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(198)	(212)	(398)	(420)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	1,204	1,263	2,438	2,546
Operating Segments \| Mass Markets \| Voice and Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	518	587	1,059	1,194
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(19)	(29)	(40)	(58)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	499	558	1,019	1,136
Operating Segments \| Mass Markets \| Consumer Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	723	726	1,454	1,448
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(53)	(55)	(105)	(108)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	670	671	1,349	1,340
Operating Segments \| Mass Markets \| SBG Broadband
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	39	39	78	78
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(4)	(5)	(8)	(8)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	35	34	70	70
Operating Segments \| Mass Markets \| CAF II
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total revenue	122	123	245	246
Adjustments for non-ASC 606 revenue	(122)	(123)	(245)	(246)
Total revenue from contracts with customers	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Revenue Recognition - Contract

Revenue Recognition - Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Customer receivables	$ 1,830	$ 1,889
Contract assets	85	108
Contract liabilities	876	950
Accounts receivable, gross	2,000	2,100
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable	$ 137	$ 174

Revenue Recognition - Remaining

Revenue Recognition - Remaining Performance Obligation (Details) $ in Billions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Remaining performance obligation	$ 6.7
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction, Start Date [Axis]: 2021-07-01
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Expected Timing of Satisfaction [Line Items]
Remaining performance obligation, percentage	72.00%
Remaining performance obligation, satisfaction period	2 years 6 months

Revenue Recognition - Capitaliz

Revenue Recognition - Capitalized Contract Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Acquisition Costs
Capitalized Contract Cost [Roll Forward]
Beginning of period balance	$ 279	$ 320	$ 289	$ 326
Costs incurred	45	36	89	85
Amortization	(53)	(56)	(107)	(111)
End of period balance	271	300	271	300
Fulfillment Costs
Capitalized Contract Cost [Roll Forward]
Beginning of period balance	216	220	216	221
Costs incurred	38	34	75	70
Amortization	(37)	(35)	(74)	(72)
End of period balance	$ 217	$ 219	$ 217	$ 219

Credit Losses on Financial In_3

Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance at January 1, 2020	$ 191
Provision for expected losses	53
Write-offs charged against the allowance	(117)
Recoveries collected	25
Ending balance at June 30, 2021	152
Business
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance at January 1, 2020	109
Provision for expected losses	21
Write-offs charged against the allowance	(35)
Recoveries collected	8
Ending balance at June 30, 2021	103
Mass Markets
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance at January 1, 2020	82
Provision for expected losses	32
Write-offs charged against the allowance	(82)
Recoveries collected	17
Ending balance at June 30, 2021	49
Consumer Reclassed to Mass Markets
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance at January 1, 2020	70
Business Reclassed to Mass Markets
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance at January 1, 2020	$ 12

Long-Term Debt and Credit Fac_3

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities - Schedule of Long Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Finance lease and other obligations	$ 321	$ 295
Unamortized discounts, net	(96)	(78)
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(235)	(237)
Total long-term debt	31,169	31,837
Less current maturities	(2,595)	(2,427)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	28,574	29,410
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Credit facility \| Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 0	150
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Credit facility \| Revolving Credit Facility \| LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	2.00%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Term loan \| Term Loan A
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,079	$ 1,108
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate	2.104%	2.147%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Term loan \| Term Loan A \| LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	2.00%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Term loan \| Term Loan A-1
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 308	$ 316
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate	2.104%	2.147%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Term loan \| Term Loan A-1 \| LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	2.00%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Term loan \| Term Loan B
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 4,925	$ 4,950
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate	2.354%	2.397%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Term loan \| Term Loan B \| LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	2.25%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes \| 4.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	4.00%
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,250	$ 1,250
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes Maturing 2022-2042
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 8,414	8,645
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes Maturing 2022-2042 \| Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	4.50%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes Maturing 2022-2042 \| Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	7.65%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Term loan \| Tranche B 2027 Term Loan
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 3,111	$ 3,111
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate	1.854%	1.897%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Term loan \| Tranche B 2027 Term Loan \| LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.75%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes, Maturing 2027-2029
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,500	$ 1,500
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes, Maturing 2027-2029 \| Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	3.40%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes, Maturing 2027-2029 \| Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	3.875%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes Maturing 2025-2029
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 5,515	5,515
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes Maturing 2025-2029 \| Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	3.625%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Senior Notes Maturing 2025-2029 \| Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	5.375%
Embarq Corporation and subsidiary \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	7.995%
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,437	1,437
Embarq Corporation and subsidiary \| First mortgage bonds
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 138	138
Embarq Corporation and subsidiary \| First mortgage bonds \| Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	7.125%
Embarq Corporation and subsidiary \| First mortgage bonds \| Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	8.375%
Qwest Corporation \| Term loan
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 215	$ 215
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate	2.11%	2.15%
Qwest Corporation \| Term loan \| LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	2.00%
Qwest Corporation \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 2,935	$ 3,170
Qwest Corporation \| Senior notes \| Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	6.50%
Qwest Corporation \| Senior notes \| Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	7.75%
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross	$ 352	$ 352
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	6.875%
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. \| Senior notes \| Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	7.75%

Long-Term Debt and Credit Fac_4

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities - Schedule of Maturities of Long Term Debt (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity
2021 (remaining six months)	$ 1,127
2022	1,542
2023	966
2024	1,143
2025	2,908
2026 and thereafter	23,814
Total long-term debt	$ 31,500

Long-Term Debt and Credit Fac_5

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 15, 2021	Jan. 13, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Repayments of debt			$ 2,600,000,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt			8,000,000
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes \| 5.375% Senior Notes Due 2029
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Face amount	$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate	5.375%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Credit facility \| Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Repayments of debt			150,000,000
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Repayments of debt			1,200,000,000
Lumen Technologies, Inc. \| Senior notes \| 6.450% Senior Notes, Series S, Due 2021
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate	6.45%
Outstanding debt repaid	$ 1,200,000,000
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Outstanding debt repaid		$ 900,000,000
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes \| 3.750% Sustainability-Linked Senior Notes 2029
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Face amount		$ 900,000,000
Stated interest rate		3.75%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Repayments of debt			900,000,000
Qwest Corporation \| Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Repayments of debt			$ 235,000,000

Severance (Details)

Severance (Details) - Severance $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Severance (Details) - Severance $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Restructuring reserve
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 103
Accrued to expense	0
Payments, net	(51)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 52

Employee Benefits (Details)

Employee Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Employee Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Combined Pension Plan
Components of net periodic (benefit) expense
Service cost	$ 15	$ 13	$ 28	$ 29
Interest cost	49	80	99	162
Expected return on plan assets	(138)	(149)	(276)	(298)
Recognition of prior service credit	(3)	(1)	(5)	(4)
Recognition of actuarial loss	49	52	98	102
Net periodic pension benefit (income) expense	(28)	(5)	(56)	(9)
Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Components of net periodic (benefit) expense
Service cost	3	3	7	7
Interest cost	11	20	23	40
Recognition of prior service credit	4	4	8	8
Recognition of actuarial loss	1	0	2	0
Net periodic pension benefit (income) expense	$ 19	$ 27	$ 40	$ 55

Earnings Per Common Share (Deta

Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
(Loss) Income (Numerator):
Net income	$ 506	$ 377	$ 981	$ 691
Net income applicable to common stock for computing basic earnings per common share	506	377	981	691
Net income as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted earnings per common share	$ 506	$ 377	$ 981	$ 691
Weighted-average number of shares:
Outstanding during period (in shares)	1,105,403	1,097,586	1,102,877	1,095,278
Non-vested restricted stock (in shares)	(18,950)	(18,111)	(18,413)	(17,523)
Weighted average shares outstanding for computing basic earnings per common share (in shares)	1,086,453	1,079,475	1,084,464	1,077,755
Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities:
Shares issuable under convertible securities (in shares)	10	10	10	10
Shares issuable under incentive compensation plans (in shares)	6,939	3,082	8,020	4,453
Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	1,093,402	1,082,567	1,092,494	1,082,218
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.35	$ 0.90	$ 0.64
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 0.35	$ 0.90	$ 0.64
Number of shares of common stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (less than) (in shares)	2,200	8,700	1,200	5,700

Fair Value of Financial Instr_3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value Measurements Determined on a Nonrecurring Basis - Fair Value Inputs, Level 2 - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Carrying Amount
Fair value disclosure
Long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other obligations	$ 30,848	$ 31,542
Interest rate swap contracts (see Note 10)	67	107
Fair Value
Fair value disclosure
Long-term debt, excluding finance lease and other obligations	32,085	33,217
Interest rate swap contracts (see Note 10)	$ 67	$ 107

Derivative Financial Instrume_3

Derivative Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)
Interest Rate Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Reclassification in next twelve months	$ 67

Derivative Financial Instrume_4

Derivative Financial Instruments - Fair Value of Derivatives (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest Rate Swap \| Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 67	$ 107

Derivative Financial Instrume_5

Derivative Financial Instruments - Losses Recognized in OCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest Rate Swap
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income	$ 0	$ 10	$ 0	$ 116

Derivative Financial Instrume_6

Derivative Financial Instruments - Reclassification from AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Realized losses reclassified from AOCI	$ 16	$ 11	$ 31	$ 16
Interest Rate Swap \| Designated as Hedging Instrument
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Realized losses reclassified from AOCI	$ 21	$ 16	$ 41	$ 21

Segment Information - Additiona

Segment Information - Additional Information (Details)	6 Months Ended
Segment Information - Additional Information (Details)	Jun. 30, 2021segmentsales_channel
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments	2
Number of reportable segments	2
Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of sales channels \| sales_channel	4

Segment Information - Segment R

Segment Information - Segment Results and Operating Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Operating revenues by products and services
Revenues	$ 4,924	$ 5,192	$ 9,953	$ 10,420
Cost of services and products	2,115	2,232	4,251	4,467
Selling, general and administrative	762	895	1,518	1,748
Less: share-based compensation	(42)	(20)	(62)	(89)
Total expense	2,835	3,107	5,707	6,126
Total adjusted EBITDA	2,089	2,085	4,246	4,294
Operating Segments
Operating revenues by products and services
Revenues	4,924	5,192	9,953	10,420
Cost of services and products	901	967	1,825	1,923
Selling, general and administrative	448	478	887	960
Less: share-based compensation	0	0	0	0
Total expense	1,349	1,445	2,712	2,883
Total adjusted EBITDA	3,575	3,747	7,241	7,537
Operating Segments \| Business
Operating revenues by products and services
Revenues	3,522	3,717	7,117	7,454
Cost of services and products	862	919	1,743	1,826
Selling, general and administrative	298	334	604	676
Less: share-based compensation	0	0	0	0
Total expense	1,160	1,253	2,347	2,502
Total adjusted EBITDA	2,362	2,464	4,770	4,952
Operating Segments \| Mass Markets
Operating revenues by products and services
Revenues	1,402	1,475	2,836	2,966
Cost of services and products	39	48	82	97
Selling, general and administrative	150	144	283	284
Less: share-based compensation	0	0	0	0
Total expense	189	192	365	381
Total adjusted EBITDA	1,213	1,283	2,471	2,585
Operations and Other
Operating revenues by products and services
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of services and products	1,214	1,265	2,426	2,544
Selling, general and administrative	314	417	631	788
Less: share-based compensation	(42)	(20)	(62)	(89)
Total expense	1,486	1,662	2,995	3,243
Total adjusted EBITDA	$ (1,486)	$ (1,662)	$ (2,995)	$ (3,243)

Segment Information - Reconcili

Segment Information - Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total adjusted EBITDA	$ 2,089	$ 2,085	$ 4,246	$ 4,294
Depreciation and amortization	(1,041)	(1,162)	(2,191)	(2,322)
OPERATING INCOME	1,006	903	1,993	1,883
Total other expense, net	(332)	(390)	(687)	(937)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	674	513	1,306	946
Income tax expense	168	136	325	255
NET INCOME	506	377	981	691
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total adjusted EBITDA	3,575	3,747	7,241	7,537
Operations and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total adjusted EBITDA	(1,486)	(1,662)	(2,995)	(3,243)
Depreciation and amortization	(1,041)	(1,162)	(2,191)	(2,322)
Other operating expenses	(1,486)	(1,662)	(2,995)	(3,243)
Stock-based compensation	(42)	(20)	(62)	(89)
OPERATING INCOME	1,006	903	1,993	1,883
Total other expense, net	$ (332)	$ (390)	$ (687)	$ (937)

Commitments and Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies and Other Items (Details) plaintiff in Thousands, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)lawsuit	Feb. 28, 2017USD ($)lawsuit	Jun. 30, 2021USD ($)contractplaintiffEmployee	Dec. 31, 2005USD ($)subsidiary
Loss Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss	$ 115,000		$ 115,000
Patents allegedly infringed \| lawsuit		1
Number of members (more than) \| plaintiff			12
Unfavorable Regulatory Action
Loss Contingencies
Estimate of possible loss	$ 300		$ 300
Level 3 Parent, LLC
Loss Contingencies
Damages sought, value			$ 50,000
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
Loss Contingencies
Number of members (more than) \| plaintiff			11
Missouri Municipalities \| Judicial ruling
Loss Contingencies
Patents allegedly infringed \| lawsuit		1
Litigation settlement amount		$ 4,000
Columbia and Joplin Municipalities \| Judicial ruling
Loss Contingencies
Patents allegedly infringed \| lawsuit	1
Litigation settlement amount	$ 55,000
Peruvian Tax Litigation \| Pending litigation
Loss Contingencies
Number of subsidiaries issues with tax assessment \| subsidiary				1
Loss contingency, asserted claim				$ 26,000
Brazilian Tax Claims \| Pending litigation \| Maximum
Loss Contingencies
Loss contingency, range of possible loss, portion not accrued	$ 53,000		$ 53,000
United States of America ex rel., Stephen Bishop v. Level 3 Communications, Inc. et al.
Loss Contingencies
Number of former employees names in lawsuit \| Employee			2
Number of government contracts in question \| contract			2

Other Financial Information (De

Other Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Abstract]
Prepaid expenses	$ 369	$ 290
Income tax receivable	12	7
Materials, supplies and inventory	114	105
Contract assets	53	66
Other	72	53
Total other current assets	906	808
Acquisition Costs
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Abstract]
Contract costs	168	173
Fulfillment Costs
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Abstract]
Contract costs	$ 118	$ 114

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - AOCI Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			$ 11,162
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			(6)	$ (318)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			109	96
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ 135	$ 53	103	(222)
Balance at end of period	11,706	13,462	11,706	13,462
Defined Benefit Plan \| Pension Plans
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(2,197)	(2,229)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			71	74
Other comprehensive income (loss)			71	74
Balance at end of period	(2,126)	(2,155)	(2,126)	(2,155)
Defined Benefit Plan \| Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(272)	(184)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			7	6
Other comprehensive income (loss)			7	6
Balance at end of period	(265)	(178)	(265)	(178)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment and Other
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(265)	(228)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			(6)	(230)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(6)	(230)
Balance at end of period	(271)	(458)	(271)	(458)
Interest Rate Swap
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period			(79)	(39)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications			0	(88)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss			31	16
Other comprehensive income (loss)			31	(72)
Balance at end of period	(48)	(111)	(48)	(111)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
AOCI Attributable to Parent, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(2,845)	(2,955)	(2,813)	(2,680)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	135	53	103	(222)
Balance at end of period	$ (2,710)	$ (2,902)	$ (2,710)	$ (2,902)

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_4

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Reclassifications (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income loss by component
Interest expense	$ 384	$ 414	$ 773	$ 863
Other income (expense), net	52	24	86	(74)
Total before tax	674	513	1,306	946
Income tax expense	(168)	(136)	(325)	(255)
Net of tax	506	377	981	691
Decrease (Increase) in Net Income \| Interest rate swaps
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income loss by component
Interest expense	21	16	41	21
Income tax expense	(5)	(5)	(10)	(5)
Net of tax	16	11	31	16
Decrease (Increase) in Net Income \| Net actuarial loss
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income loss by component
Other income (expense), net	50	52	100	102
Decrease (Increase) in Net Income \| Prior service cost
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income loss by component
Other income (expense), net	1	3	3	4
Decrease (Increase) in Net Income \| Defined benefit plan
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income loss by component
Total before tax	51	55	103	106
Income tax expense	(12)	(14)	(25)	(26)
Net of tax	$ 39	$ 41	$ 78	$ 80

Labor Union Contracts (Details)

Labor Union Contracts (Details) - Unionized employees concentration risk	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021
Total number of employees
Concentration risk
Concentration risk, percent	22.00%
Workforce subject to collective bargaining arrangements, expired
Concentration risk
Concentration risk, percent	5.00%
Workforce subject to collective bargaining arrangements expiring within one year
Concentration risk
Concentration risk, percent	8.00%

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - Subsequent Event	Aug. 04, 2021shares	Aug. 03, 2021USD ($)state	Jul. 25, 2021USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Repurchase program, period		24 months
Repurchase program, authorized amount		$ 1,000,000,000
Number of shares repurchased \| shares	0
Latin American Business \| Level 3 Parent, LLC \| Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Cash consideration from disposal of business			$ 2,735,000,000
Local Exchange Business in Midwestern and Southern States \| Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Cash consideration from disposal of business		$ 7,500,000,000
Number of states in which the business is conducted \| state		20
Assumed indebtedness from disposal of business		$ 1,400,000,000
Purchaser's transaction expenses		$ 245,000,000

Uncategorized Items - lumn-2021

Label	Element	Value
Small and Medium Business [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	$ (2,808,000,000)
Enterprise [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	(4,738,000,000)
Mass Market Segment [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	6,697,000,000
Business Segment [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	12,173,000,000
Wholesale [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	(3,114,000,000)
Consumer [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	(5,655,000,000)
International and Global Accounts [Member]
Goodwill	us-gaap_Goodwill	$ (2,555,000,000)
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible Enumeration]	us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]