Lumen (LUMN) 10-Q 8 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'CENTURYLINK, INC	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000018926	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	591,070,797
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
OPERATING REVENUES	$4,515	$4,571	$13,553	$13,793
OPERATING EXPENSES	'	'	'	'
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	1,918	1,943	5,587	5,732
Selling, general and administrative	1,047	748	2,679	2,454
Depreciation and amortization	1,135	1,144	3,375	3,560
Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	1,100	0	1,100	0
Total operating expenses	5,200	3,835	12,741	11,746
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	-685	736	812	2,047
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-329	-326	-970	-1,004
Net loss on early retirement of debt	0	0	0	-194
Other income	9	12	52	27
Total other income (expense)	-320	-314	-918	-1,171
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	-1,005	422	-106	876
Income tax expense	40	152	372	332
NET (LOSS) INCOME	($1,045)	$270	($478)	$544
BASIC AND DILUTED (LOSS) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE	'	'	'	'
BASIC (in dollars per share)	($1.76)	$0.43	($0.79)	$0.88
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	($1.76)	$0.43	($0.79)	$0.87
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$0.54	$0.73	$1.62	$2.17
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING	'	'	'	'
BASIC (in shares)	594,587	621,148	606,104	619,748
DILUTED (in shares)	594,587	623,296	606,104	621,828

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
NET (LOSS) INCOME	($1,045)	$270	($478)	$544
Net (loss) income	-1,045	270	-478	544
Items related to employee benefit plans:	'	'	'	'
Change in net actuarial loss, net of $(8), $(3), $(25), and $(9) tax	13	4	40	14
Change in net prior service credit, net of $–, $(1), $(1), and $(1) tax	1	2	2	2
Auction rate securities marked to market, net of $–, $–, $–, and $(2) tax	0	0	0	3
Foreign currency translation adjustment and other, net of $–, $–, $–, and $– tax	13	8	-1	9
Other comprehensive income	27	14	41	28
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME	($1,018)	$284	($437)	$572

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Change in net actuarial loss, tax	($8)	($3)	($25)	($9)
Change in net prior service credit, tax	'	'	-1	'
Auction rate securities marked to market, tax	'	'	'	-2
Foreign currency translation adjustment and other, tax	$0	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
CURRENT ASSETS	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$266	$211
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	151	158
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $151 and $158	1,911	1,917
Income tax receivable	68	42
Deferred income taxes, net	1,004	891
Other	563	552
Total current assets	3,812	3,613
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	33,724	31,933
Accumulated depreciation	-15,059	-13,024
Net property, plant and equipment	18,665	18,909
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS	'	'
Goodwill	20,637	21,732
Customer relationships, less accumulated amortization of $3,370 and $2,524	6,206	7,052
Other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of $1290 and $986	1,842	1,918
Other	822	796
Total goodwill and other assets	29,507	31,498
TOTAL ASSETS	51,984	54,020
CURRENT LIABILITIES	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	191	1,205
Accounts payable	1,158	1,207
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	'	'
Salaries and benefits	679	683
Income and other taxes	397	356
Interest	355	268
Other	498	234
Advance billings and customer deposits	700	642
Total current liabilities	3,978	4,595
LONG-TERM DEBT	20,391	19,400
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES	'	'
Deferred income taxes, net	4,125	3,644
Benefit plan obligations, net	5,488	5,844
Other	1,288	1,248
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	10,901	10,736
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9)	'	'
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	'	'
Preferred stock—non-redeemable, $25.00 par value, authorized 2,000 shares, issued and outstanding 7 and 7 shares	0	0
Common stock, $1.00 par value, authorized 1,600,000 and 1,600,000 shares, issued and outstanding 593,497 and 625,658 shares	593	626
Additional paid-in capital	17,954	19,079
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,660	-1,701
(Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings	-173	1,285
Total stockholders' equity	16,714	19,289
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$51,984	$54,020

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	$151,000,000	$158,000,000
Customer relationships, accumulated amortization (in dollars)	3,370,000,000	2,524,000,000
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars)	$1,290,000,000	$986,000,000
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, par value (in dollars per share)	$25	$25
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, authorized shares (shares)	2,000	2,000
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, issued shares (shares)	7	7
Preferred stock-non-redeemable, outstanding shares (shares)	7	7
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1
Common stock, authorized shares (shares)	1,600,000	1,600,000
Common stock, shares, issued (shares)	593,497	625,658
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	593,497	625,658

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	'	'
NET (LOSS) INCOME	($478)	$544
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	3,375	3,560
Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	1,100	0
Deferred income taxes	349	260
Provision for uncollectible accounts	111	144
Gain on sale of intangible assets	-32	0
Long-term debt premium amortization	-45	-71
Net loss on early retirement of debt	0	194
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-105	-136
Accounts payable	0	48
Accrued income and other taxes	30	65
Other current assets and other current liabilities, net	303	134
Retirement benefits	-288	-179
Changes in other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	61	91
Other, net	27	32
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,408	4,686
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Payments for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software	-2,211	-2,024
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets or property	75	133
Other, net	19	28
Net cash used in investing activities	-2,117	-1,863
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,740	3,363
Payments of long-term debt	-1,169	-4,529
Early retirement of debt costs	0	-324
Net payments on credit facility	-620	3
Dividends paid	-986	-1,357
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	54	91
Repurchase of common stock	-1,252	-20
Other, net	-3	14
Net cash used in financing activities	-2,236	-2,759
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	2
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	55	66
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	211	128
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	266	194
Supplemental cash flow information:	'	'
Income taxes (paid), net	-45	-59
Interest (paid) (net of capitalized interest of $30 and $33)	($915)	($997)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'	'
Interest (paid), capitalized interest	$30	$33

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	COMMON STOCK	ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	RETAINED EARNINGS
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	'	$619	$18,901	($1,012)	$2,319
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans	'	5	86	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	'	0	0	'	'
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings	'	-1	-17	'	'
Share-based compensation and other, net	'	'	82	'	'
Other comprehensive income	28	'	'	'	'
Net income	544	'	'	'	544
Dividends declared	'	'	'	'	-1,357
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	20,197	623	19,052	-984	1,506
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	19,289	626	19,079	-1,701	1,285
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans	'	2	50	'	'
Repurchase of common stock	-1,240	-35	-1,219	'	'
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholdings	'	0	-16	'	'
Share-based compensation and other, net	'	'	60	'	'
Other comprehensive income	41	'	'	41	'
Net income	-478	'	'	'	-478
Dividends declared	'	'	'	'	-980
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$16,714	$593	$17,954	($1,660)	($173)

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1	$1	$1

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	We are an integrated communications company engaged primarily in providing an array of communications services to our residential, business, governmental and wholesale customers. Our communications services include local and long-distance, network access, private line (including special access), public access, broadband, data, managed hosting (including cloud hosting), colocation, wireless and video services. In certain local and regional markets, we also provide local access and fiber transport services to competitive local exchange carriers and security monitoring.
	Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012, 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 have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"); however, in our opinion, the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We believe that these consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the results for the interim periods. The consolidated results of operations for the first nine months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations that might be expected for the entire year. These consolidated financial statements 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, 2012.
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our subsidiaries over which we exercise control. All 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), (ii) equity attributable to noncontrolling interests in additional paid-in capital and (iii) cash flows attributable to noncontrolling interests in other financing activities.
	We have reclassified certain prior year balance sheet amounts presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 to conform to the current period presentation. Specifically, we have reclassified $123 million in software development costs, net of $30 million in accumulated amortization, from property, plant and equipment to other intangibles assets on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012.
	We also have reclassified certain other prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation, including the categorization of our segment reporting. See Note 8—Segment Information for additional information. These changes had no impact on total revenues, total operating expenses or net (loss) income for any period.

Goodwill

Goodwill	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	During the first quarter of 2013, we reorganized our operating segments to support our new operating structure. As a result, we reassigned goodwill to our segments using a relative fair value allocation approach. In the table below we have reclassified $170 million from our data hosting segment to our business segment compared to the amounts disclosed in our prior 2013 quarterly reports. We determined that there was an error in the calculation used to reallocate goodwill related to our January 3, 2013 segment reorganization and we have revised our goodwill allocation relative to the fair values reflective of the segment changes at that date. This revision does not change the total amount of goodwill recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as of any prior period and would not have resulted in an impairment in a prior period.
		As of
		3-Jan-13
		(Dollars in millions)
	Consumer	$	10,379
	Business	6,413
	Wholesale	3,283
	Data hosting	1,657
	Total goodwill	$	21,732
	For additional information on the reorganization of our segments, see Note 8—Segment Information.
	We test our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or, under certain circumstances, more frequently, such as when events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. We are required to write down the value of goodwill only when our testing determines the recorded amount of goodwill exceeds the fair value. Our annual measurement date for testing goodwill impairment is September 30, at which date we test our reporting units, which are our four operating segments (consumer, business, wholesale and data hosting).
	Our reporting units, which we refer to as our segments, are not discrete legal entities with discrete financial statements. Our assets and liabilities are employed in and relate to the operations of multiple reporting units. For each segment, we compare its estimated fair value to the carrying value of the assets that we attribute to the segment. If the estimated fair value of the segment is greater than the carrying value, we conclude that no impairment exists. If the estimated fair value of the segment is less than the carrying value, a second calculation is required in which the implied fair value of goodwill is compared to the carrying value of goodwill that we attribute to the segment. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value, goodwill must be written down to its implied fair value.
	At September 30, 2013, as a result of the January 2013 internal reorganization of our four segments, we did not have a baseline valuation upon which to perform a qualitative assessment. Additionally, our stock price and total company forecasted cash flows declined since our previous quantitative assessment. Therefore, we are in the process of completing our goodwill impairment testing by considering both a market approach and a discounted cash flow method. The market approach method includes the use of comparable multiples of publicly traded companies whose services are comparable to ours. The discounted cash flow method is based on the present value of projected cash flows and a terminal value, which represents the expected normalized cash flows of the segments beyond the cash flows from the discrete projection period.
	We have not yet completed our impairment testing. However, based on our analysis performed thus far with respect to these segments as described above, we believe that the goodwill related to the wholesale, consumer and business segments was not impaired as of September 30, 2013, but we believe that the goodwill for the data hosting segment was impaired as of September 30, 2013. The data hosting segment is experiencing slower than previously projected revenue and margin growth and greater than anticipated competitive pressures. As a result, we have estimated that the fair value of our data hosting segment is less than its carrying value.
	We have not finalized our impairment estimate for the data hosting segment due to the limited time period from the testing date to the filing date for this report, as well as the time required to estimate the fair values of certain assets and liabilities for this segment. Although our analysis is incomplete, we recorded our best estimate of a non-cash, non-tax-deductible goodwill impairment charge of $1.1 billion during the third quarter of 2013 for goodwill attributed to our data hosting segment. We expect to complete our impairment analysis prior to reporting our financial results for the fourth quarter of 2013 and will record an adjustment, which could be material, to our preliminary estimate at that time.
	As of September 30, 2013, we attributed our aggregate goodwill balance, after recording the above-described impairment to our data hosting segment, to our four segments as follows:
		As of
		30-Sep-13
		(Dollars in millions)
	Consumer	$	10,379
	Business	6,413
	Wholesale	3,283
	Data hosting (1)	562
	Total goodwill	$	20,637
	_______________________________________________________________________________
	(1) Data hosting includes an adjustment to goodwill for an immaterial acquisition in the second quarter of 2013.

LongTerm_Debt_and_Credit_Facil

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities	'
	Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities
	Long-term debt, including unamortized discounts and premiums, is as follows:
		Interest Rates	Maturities	30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
				(Dollars in millions)
	CenturyLink, Inc.
	Senior notes	5.000% - 7.650%	2015 - 2042	$	7,075		6,250
	Credit facility(1)	4.25%	2017	200			820
	Term loan	2.43%	2019	407			424
	Subsidiaries
	Qwest
	Senior notes	6.125% - 8.375%	2014 - 2053	9,192			9,168
	Embarq
	Senior notes	7.082% - 7.995%	2016 - 2036	2,669			2,669
	First mortgage bonds	7.125% - 8.770%	2014 - 2025	262			322
	Other	9.00%	2019	150			200
	Capital lease and other obligations	Various	Various	653			734
	Unamortized (discounts) premiums and other, net			(26		)	18
	Total long-term debt			20,582			20,605
	Less current maturities			(191		)	(1,205	)
	Long-term debt, excluding current maturities			$	20,391		19,400
	______________________________________________________________________________
	(1)	The outstanding amount of our Credit Facility borrowings at September 30, 2013 was $200 million with an interest rate of 4.250%. These amounts change on a regular basis.
	New Issuances
	On May 23, 2013, Qwest Corporation ("QC") issued $775 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% Notes due 2053, including $25 million principal amount that was sold pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters for the offering, in exchange for net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and expenses, of approximately $752 million. The Notes are unsecured obligations and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, on or after June 1, 2018 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
	On March 21, 2013, CenturyLink, Inc. issued $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Notes due 2020 in exchange for net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and expenses, of approximately $988 million. The Notes are unsecured obligations and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of par or a "make-whole" rate specified in the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. In addition, at any time on or prior to April 1, 2016, we may redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 105.625% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. Under certain circumstances, we will be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes at a price of 101% of their aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date.
	Repayments
	On August 15, 2013, a subsidiary of Embarq Corporation ("Embarq") paid at maturity the $50 million principal amount of its 6.75% Notes.
	On July 15, 2013, a subsidiary of Embarq paid at maturity the $59 million principal amount of its 6.875% Notes.
	On June 17, 2013, QC paid at maturity the $750 million principal amount of its floating rate Notes.
	On April 1, 2013, CenturyLink, Inc. paid at maturity the $176 million principal amount of its 5.50% Notes.
	Covenants
	As of September 30, 2013, we believe we were in compliance with the provisions and covenants contained in our Credit Facility and other debt agreements.

Severance_and_Leased_Real_Esta

Severance and Leased Real Estate	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Severance and Leased Real Estate	'
	Severance and Leased Real Estate
	Periodically, we have reductions in our workforce and have accrued liabilities for the related severance costs. These workforce reductions resulted primarily from the progression or completion of our integration plans, increased competitive pressures and reduced workload demands due to the loss of access lines.
	We report severance liabilities within accrued expenses and other liabilities-salaries and benefits in our consolidated balance sheets and report severance expenses in cost of services and products and selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. We have not allocated any severance expense to our consumer, business and wholesale segments.
	We report the current portion of liabilities for real estate leases that we have ceased using in accrued expenses and other liabilities and report the noncurrent portion in other noncurrent liabilities under deferred credits and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. We report the related expenses in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. At September 30, 2013, the current and noncurrent portions of our leased real estate accrual were $18 million and $99 million, respectively. The remaining lease terms range from 0.3 to 12.3 years, with a weighted average of 8.7 years.
	Changes in our accrued liabilities for severance expenses and leased real estate were as follows:
		Severance			Real Estate
		(Dollars in millions)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	17		131
	Accrued to expense	17			—
	Payments, net	(23		)	(12	)
	Reversals and adjustments	—			(2	)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	11		117

Employee_Benefits

Employee Benefits	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefits	'
	Employee Benefits
	Net periodic pension benefit expense (income) included the following components:
		Pension Plans
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Service cost	$	22		23		70		68
	Interest cost	137			156		407		468
	Expected return on plan assets	(224		)	(212	)	(672	)	(636	)
	Recognition of prior service cost	1			1		4		3
	Recognition of actuarial loss	20			7		61		22
	Net periodic pension benefit expense (income)	$	(44	)	(25	)	(130	)	(75	)
	Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense (income) included the following components:
		Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Service cost	$	6		5		18		16
	Interest cost	35			44		105		131
	Expected return on plan assets	(10		)	(11	)	(30	)	(33	)
	Recognition of actuarial loss	1			—		3		—
	Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense (income)	$	32		38		96		114
	We report net periodic benefit expense (income) for our qualified pension, non-qualified pension and post-retirement benefit plans in cost of services and products and selling, general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations.

Loss_Earnings_per_Common_Share

(Loss) Earnings per Common Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings per Common Share	'
	arnings per Common Share
	Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were calculated as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts, shares in thousands)
	(Loss) Income (Numerator):
	Net (loss) income	$	(1,045	)	270		(478	)	544
	Earnings applicable to non-vested restricted stock	—			—		—		(1	)
	Net (loss) income applicable to common stock for computing basic (loss) earnings per common share	(1,045		)	270		(478	)	543
	Net (loss) income as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted (loss) earnings per common share	$	(1,045	)	270		(478	)	543
	Shares (Denominator):
	Weighted average number of shares:
	Outstanding during period	598,350			622,769		609,542		621,370
	Non-vested restricted stock	(3,763		)	(2,541	)	(3,438	)	(2,582	)
	Non-vested restricted stock units	—			920		—		960
	Weighted average shares outstanding for computing basic (loss) earnings per common share	594,587			621,148		606,104		619,748
	Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities:
	Shares issuable under convertible securities	—			13		—		13
	Shares issuable under incentive compensation plans	—			2,135		—		2,067
	Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted (loss) earnings per common share	594,587			623,296		606,104		621,828
	Basic (loss) earnings per common share	$	(1.76	)	0.43		(0.79	)	0.88
	Diluted (loss) earnings per common share (1)	$	(1.76	)	0.43		(0.79	)	0.87
	______________________________________________________________________
	(1) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, we excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share 1.16 million shares and 1.37 million shares, respectively, potentially issuable under incentive compensation plans or convertible securities, as their effect, if included, would have been anti-dilutive.
	Our calculation of diluted (loss) earnings per common share excludes shares of common stock that are issuable upon exercise of stock options when the exercise price is greater than the average market price of our common stock during the period. Such potentially issuable shares totaled 2.7 million and 2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 2.5 million and 2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.

Fair_Value_Disclosure

Fair Value Disclosure	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosure	'
	Fair Value Disclosure
	Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations. Due to their short-term nature, the carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair values.
	Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between independent and knowledgeable parties who are willing and able to transact for an asset or liability at the measurement date. We use valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value and then we rank the estimated values based on the reliability of the inputs used following the fair value hierarchy set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB").
	We determined the fair values of our long-term debt, including the current portion, based on quoted market prices where available or, if not available, based on discounted future cash flows using current market interest rates.
	The three input levels in the hierarchy of fair value measurements are 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 long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, as well as the input level used to determine the fair values:
				30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
		Input		Carrying		Fair	Carrying	Fair
		Level		Amount		Value	Amount	Value
		(Dollars in millions)
	Liabilities—Long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations	2		$	19,929	20,124	19,871	21,457

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	During the first quarter of 2013, we announced a reorganization of our operating segments. Consequently, since the first quarter of 2013, we have reported the following four segments in our consolidated financial statements: consumer, business, wholesale and data hosting. The primary purpose of the reorganization was to strengthen our focus on the business market while continuing our commitment to our wholesale, hosting and consumer customers. The reorganization combined business sales and operations functions that formerly resided in the enterprise markets—network segment and the regional markets segment into the new unified business segment. The remaining customers formerly serviced by the regional markets segment became the new consumer segment. Each of the current segments are described further below:
	•	Consumer. Consists generally of providing strategic and legacy products and services to residential consumers. Our strategic products and services offered to these customers include our broadband, wireless and video services, including our Prism TV services. Our legacy services offered to these customers include local and long-distance service.
	•	Business. Consists generally of providing strategic and legacy products and services to commercial, enterprise, global and governmental customers. Our strategic products and services offered to these customers include our private line, broadband, Ethernet, Multiprotocol Label Switching ("MPLS"), Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP"), and network management services. Our legacy services offered to these customers include local and long-distance service.
	•	Wholesale. Consists generally of providing strategic and legacy products and services to other communications providers. Our strategic products and services offered to these customers are mainly private line (including special access), dedicated internet access, digital subscriber line ("DSL") and MPLS. Our legacy services offered to these customers include resale of our services, unbundled network elements ("UNEs") which allow our wholesale customers the use of our network or a combination of our network and their own networks to provide voice and data services to their customers, long-distance and switched access services and other services, including billing and collection, pole rental, floor space and database services.
	•	Data hosting. Consists primarily of providing colocation, managed hosting and cloud hosting services to commercial, enterprise, global and governmental customers.
	We have restated previously reported segment results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to the above-described restructuring of our business. Segment results are summarized below:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Total segment revenues	$	4,267		4,314		12,799		13,004
	Total segment expenses	2,105			2,071		6,112		6,154
	Total segment income	$	2,162		2,243		6,687		6,850
	Total margin percentage	50.7		%	52	%	52.2	%	52.7	%
	Consumer:
	Revenues	$	1,503		1,536		4,508		4,640
	Expenses	580			585		1,657		1,720
	Income	$	923		951		2,851		2,920
	Margin percentage	61.4		%	61.9	%	63.2	%	62.9	%
	Business:
	Revenues	$	1,544		1,541		4,573		4,586
	Expenses	958			936		2,776		2,789
	Income	$	586		605		1,797		1,797
	Margin percentage	38		%	39.3	%	39.3	%	39.2	%
	Wholesale:
	Revenues	$	878		910		2,695		2,818
	Expenses	293			304		868		929
	Income	$	585		606		1,827		1,889
	Margin percentage	66.6		%	66.6	%	67.8	%	67	%
	Data hosting:
	Revenues	$	342		327		1,023		960
	Expenses	274			246		811		716
	Income	$	68		81		212		244
	Margin percentage	19.9		%	24.8	%	20.7	%	25.4	%
	We categorize our products and services into the following four categories:
	•	Strategic services, which include primarily broadband, private line (including special access which we market to wholesale and business customers), MPLS (which is a data networking technology that can deliver the quality of service required to support real-time voice and video), hosting (including cloud hosting and managed hosting), colocation, Ethernet, video (including resold satellite and our facilities-based video services), VoIP and Verizon Wireless services;
	•	Legacy services, which include primarily local, long-distance, switched access, Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") (which uses regular telephone lines to support voice, video and data applications), and traditional wide area network ("WAN") services (which allows a local communications network to link to networks in remote locations);
	•	Data integration, which includes the sale of telecommunications equipment located on customers' premises and related professional services, such as network management, installation and maintenance of data equipment and building of proprietary fiber-optic broadband networks for our government and business customers; and
	•	Other revenues, which consist primarily of Universal Service Fund ("USF") revenue and surcharges. Unlike the first three revenue categories, other revenues are not included in our segment revenues.
	Our operating revenues for our products and services consisted of the following categories:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Strategic services	$	2,189		2,101		6,495		6,237
	Legacy services	1,915			2,045		5,834		6,284
	Data integration	163			168		470		483
	Other	248			257		754		789
	Total operating revenues	$	4,515		4,571		13,553		13,793
	Other operating revenues include revenues from universal service funds which allow us to recover a portion of our costs under federal and state cost recovery mechanisms and certain surcharges to our customers, including billings for our required contributions to several USF programs. These surcharge billings to our customers are reflected on a gross basis in our statements of operations (included in equal amounts in both operating revenues and expenses) and aggregated approximately $368 million and $398 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. We also generate other operating revenues from leasing and subleasing of space in our office buildings, warehouses and other properties. We centrally manage the activities that generate these other operating revenues and consequently these revenues are not included in any of our four segments presented in the segment results table above.
	Our segment revenues include all revenues from our strategic, legacy and data integration operations as described in more detail above. Segment revenues are based upon each customer's classification to an individual segment. We report our segment revenues based upon all services provided to that segment's customers, with the exception of data hosting revenue generated from business and wholesale customers, which is reported as data hosting segment revenues. We report our segment expenses for our four segments as follows:
	•	Direct expenses, which primarily are specific 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; and
	•	Allocated expenses, which include network expenses, facilities expenses and other expenses such as fleet and real estate expenses.
	We do not assign depreciation and amortization expense or impairments to our segments, as the related assets and capital expenditures are centrally managed. Similarly, severance expenses, restructuring expenses and, subject to an exception for our data hosting segment, certain centrally managed administrative functions (such as finance, information technology, legal and human resources) are not assigned to our segments. Interest expense is also excluded from segment results because we manage our financing on a total company basis and have not allocated assets or debt to specific segments. Other income (expense) does not relate to our segment operations and is therefore excluded from our segment results. In addition, our assets and capital expenditures are not monitored by or reported to the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") by segment.
	The following table reconciles segment income to net (loss) income:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Total segment income	$	2,162		2,243		6,687		6,850
	Other operating revenues	248			257		754		789
	Depreciation and amortization	(1,135		)	(1,144	)	(3,375	)	(3,560	)
	Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	(1,100		)	—		(1,100	)	—
	Other unassigned operating expenses	(860		)	(620	)	(2,154	)	(2,032	)
	Other income (expense), net	(320		)	(314	)	(918	)	(1,171	)
Income tax expense	(40		)	(152	)	(372	)	(332	)
Net (loss) income	$	(1,045	)	270		(478	)	544

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	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. Until and unless a class has been certified by the court, it has not been established that the named plaintiffs represent the class of plaintiffs they purport to represent.
	We have established accrued liabilities only for the matters described below where losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable.
	We are vigorously defending against all of the matters described below. As a matter of course, we are prepared both to litigate the matters to judgment, as well as to evaluate and consider all settlement opportunities.
	Litigation Matters Relating to CenturyLink and Embarq
	In December 2009, subsidiaries of CenturyLink filed two lawsuits against subsidiaries of Sprint Nextel to recover terminating access charges for VoIP traffic owed under various interconnection agreements and tariffs which presently approximate $34 million in the aggregate. The lawsuits allege that Sprint Nextel has breached contracts, violated tariffs, and violated the Federal Communications Act by failing to pay these charges. One lawsuit, filed on behalf of all legacy Embarq operating entities, was tried in federal court in Virginia in August 2010 and, in March 2011, a ruling was issued in our favor and against Sprint Nextel. That ruling was affirmed on appeal, and Sprint's petition for further review by the U.S. Supreme Court has been denied. As a result, this lawsuit is concluded and, as of September 30, 2013, Sprint has paid us approximately $24 million in connection with this lawsuit. The other lawsuit, filed on behalf of all Legacy CenturyLink operating entities, is pending in federal court in Louisiana. In that case, in early 2011 the Court dismissed certain of CenturyLink's claims, referred other claims to the FCC, and stayed the litigation. In April 2012, Sprint Nextel filed a petition with the FCC, seeking a declaratory ruling that CenturyLink's access charges do not apply to VoIP originated calls. We have not deferred revenue related to these matters because we do not believe an adverse outcome is probable based upon current circumstances.
	In William Douglas Fulghum, et al. v. Embarq Corporation, et al., filed on December 28, 2007 in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, a group of retirees filed a putative class action lawsuit challenging the decision to make certain modifications in retiree benefits programs relating to life insurance, medical insurance and prescription drug benefits, generally effective January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2008 (which, at the time of the modifications, was expected to reduce estimated future expenses for the subject benefits by more than $300 million). Defendants include Embarq, certain of its benefit plans, its Employee Benefits Committee and the individual plan administrator of certain of its benefits plans. Additional defendants include Sprint Nextel and certain of its benefit plans. The Court certified a class on certain of plaintiffs' claims, but rejected class certification as to other claims. Embarq and other defendants continue to vigorously contest these claims and charges. On October 14, 2011, the Fulghum lawyers filed a new, related lawsuit, Abbott et al. v. Sprint Nextel et al. CenturyLink/Embarq is not named a defendant in the lawsuit. In Abbott, approximately 1,500 plaintiffs allege breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the changes in retiree benefits that also are at issue in the Fulghum case. The Abbott plaintiffs are all members of the class that was certified in Fulghum on claims for allegedly vested benefits (Counts I and III), and the Abbott claims are similar to the Fulghum breach of fiduciary duty claim (Count II), on which the Fulghum court denied class certification. The Court has stayed proceedings in Abbott indefinitely. On February 14, 2013, the Fulghum court dismissed the majority of the plaintiffs' claims in that case. On July 16, 2013, the Fulghum court granted plaintiffs' request to seek interlocutory review by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Embarq and the other defendants will defend the appeal, continue to vigorously contest any remaining claims in Fulghum and seek to have the claims in the Abbott case dismissed on similar grounds. We have not accrued a liability for these matters because we believe it is premature (i) to determine whether an accrual is warranted and, (ii) if so, to determine a reasonable estimate of probable liability.
	Litigation Matters Relating to Qwest
	On July 16, 2013, Comcast MO Group, Inc. ("Comcast") filed a lawsuit in Colorado state court against Qwest Communications International, Inc. ("Qwest"). Comcast alleges Qwest breached the parties' 1998 tax sharing agreement ("TSA") when it refused to partially indemnify Comcast for a tax liability settlement Comcast reached with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a dispute to which we were not a party. Comcast seeks approximately $80 million in damages, excluding interest. Qwest and Comcast are parties to the TSA in their capacities as successors to the TSA's original parties, U S WEST, Inc., a telecommunications company, and MediaOne Group, Inc., a cable television company, respectively. We have not accrued a liability for this matter because we do not believe that liability is probable.
	On September 29, 2010, the trustees in the Dutch bankruptcy proceeding for KPNQwest, N.V. (of which Qwest was a major shareholder) filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Haarlem, the Netherlands, alleging tort and mismanagement claims under Dutch law. Qwest and Koninklijke KPN N.V. ("KPN") are defendants in this lawsuit along with a number of former KPNQwest supervisory board members and a former officer of KPNQwest, some of whom were formerly affiliated with Qwest. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that defendants' actions were a cause of the bankruptcy of KPNQwest, and they seek damages for the bankruptcy deficit of KPNQwest, which is claimed to be approximately €4.2 billion (or approximately $5.7 billion based on the exchange rate on September 30, 2013), plus statutory interest. Two lawsuits asserting similar claims were previously filed against Qwest and others in federal courts in New Jersey in 2004 and Colorado in 2009; those courts dismissed the lawsuits without prejudice on the grounds that the claims should not be litigated in the United States.
	In October 2013 following a confidential mediation, Qwest, KPN, and the trustees reached a tentative oral agreement on the principal financial terms of a potential settlement. The potential settlement terms include Qwest's payment of €172 million (or approximately $233 million based on the exchange rate on September 30, 2013) to the KPNQwest bankruptcy estate pursuant to its indemnification obligations, discussed below. The tentative settlement is subject to several conditions, including the negotiation and execution of a definitive settlement agreement acceptable to the plaintiffs and various other defendants and the approval of the Dutch bankruptcy court.
	On September 13, 2006, Cargill Financial Markets, Plc and Citibank, N.A. filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, against Qwest, KPN, KPN Telecom B.V., and other former officers, employees or supervisory board members of KPNQwest, some of whom were formerly affiliated with Qwest. The lawsuit alleges that defendants misrepresented KPNQwest's financial and business condition in connection with the origination of a credit facility and wrongfully allowed KPNQwest to borrow funds under that facility. Plaintiffs allege damages of approximately €219 million (or approximately $296 million based on the exchange rate on September 30, 2013). The value of this claim will be reduced to the degree plaintiffs receive recovery from the tentative trustee settlement described above. While we expect the plaintiffs would receive proceeds from any such trustee settlement, the amounts of such expected recovery are not yet known. On April 25, 2012, the court issued its judgment denying the claims asserted by Cargill and Citibank in their lawsuit. Cargill and Citibank are appealing that decision.
	Regarding the 2010 proceeding filed by the trustees, we have accrued a liability in the third quarter of 2013 in the pre-tax amount of €172 million (or approximately $233 million reflected in our accompanying consolidated financial statements based on the exchange rate on September 30, 2013) which equals Qwest's proposed contribution under the terms of the tentative settlement. In the event that a settlement is not finalized, we will continue to defend against the matter vigorously. Regarding the 2006 suit brought by Cargill Financial Markets, Plc and Citibank. N.A., we do not believe that liability is probable and will continue to defend against the matter vigorously.
	The terms and conditions of applicable bylaws, certificates or articles of incorporation, agreements or applicable law may obligate Qwest to indemnify its former directors, officers or employees with respect to certain of the matters described above, and Qwest has been advancing legal fees and costs to certain former directors, officers or employees in connection with certain matters described above.
	Several putative class actions relating to the installation of fiber optic cable in certain rights-of-way were filed against Qwest on behalf of landowners on various dates and in courts located in 34 states in which Qwest has such cable (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.) For the most part, the complaints challenge our right to install our fiber optic cable in railroad rights-of-way. The complaints allege that the railroads own the right-of-way as an easement that did not include the right to permit us to install our cable in the right-of-way without the plaintiffs' consent. Most of the currently pending actions purport to be brought on behalf of state-wide classes in the named plaintiffs' respective states, although one action pending before the Illinois Court of Appeals purports to be brought on behalf of landowners in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. In general, the complaints seek damages on theories of trespass and unjust enrichment, as well as punitive damages. After previous attempts to enter into a single nationwide settlement in a single court proved unsuccessful, the parties proceeded to seek court approval of settlements on a state-by-state basis. To date, the parties have received final approval of such settlements in 29 states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin), have received only preliminary approval of the settlement in one state (Kentucky), and have not yet received either preliminary or final approval in one state where an action is pending (Texas) and three states where actions were at one time, but are not currently, pending (Arizona, Massachusetts, and New Mexico). We have accrued an amount that we believe is probable for these matters; however, the amount is not material to our consolidated financial statements.
	Securities Actions
	CenturyLink and certain of its affiliates are defendants in two securities and four shareholder derivative actions. The securities actions are pending in federal court in the Southern District of New York and the derivative actions are pending in federal court in the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana, and Louisiana state court. Plaintiffs in these actions have variously alleged, among other things, that CenturyLink and certain of its current and former officers and directors violated federal securities laws and/or breached fiduciary duties owed to the Company and its shareholders. Plaintiffs' complaints focus on alleged material misstatements or omissions concerning CenturyLink's financial condition and changes in CenturyLink's capital allocation strategy in early 2013.
	The matters are in preliminary phases and the Company intends to defend against the filed actions vigorously. We have not accrued a liability for these matters as it is premature (i) to determine whether an accrual is warranted and (ii) if so, to determine a reasonable estimate of probable liability.
	Other Matters
	From time to time, we are involved in other proceedings incidental to our business, including patent infringement allegations, administrative hearings of state public utility commissions relating primarily to rate making, actions relating to employee claims, various tax issues, environmental law issues, grievance hearings before labor regulatory agencies, and miscellaneous third party tort actions. The outcome of these other proceedings 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 insurance coverage, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Other_Financial_Information

Other Financial Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Other Financial Information	'
	Other Financial Information
	Other Current Assets
	Other current assets reflected on our consolidated balance sheets consisted of the following:
		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(Dollars in millions)
	Prepaid expenses	$	277	257
	Materials, supplies and inventory	172		125
	Assets held for sale	—		96
	Deferred activation and installation charges	69		53
	Other	45		21
	Total other current assets	$	563	552
	In January 2013, we sold $43 million of our wireless spectrum assets held for sale. The sale resulted in a gain of $32 million, which is recorded as other income on our consolidated statements of operations. During the quarter ended June 30, 2013, we reclassified our remaining $53 million of wireless spectrum assets from held for sale to other intangible assets on our consolidated balance sheet. Although we continue to pursue selling our remaining spectrum assets, we no longer expect to reach agreements with purchasers within the coming twelve months.
	Selected Current Liabilities
	Current liabilities reflected in our consolidated balance sheets include accounts payable and other current liabilities as follows:
		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(Dollars in millions)
	Accounts payable	$	1,158	1,207
	Other current liabilities:
	Accrued rent	$	46	48
	Legal reserves	266		39
	Unsettled repurchased common shares	18		—
	Other	168		147
	Total other current liabilities	$	498	234
	We had approximately $132 million and $132 million in book overdrafts included in accounts payable at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Labor_Union_Contracts

Labor Union Contracts	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Labor Union Contracts	'
Labor Union Contracts	'
	Labor Union Contracts
	Approximately 37% of our employees are members of various bargaining units represented by the Communications Workers of America ("CWA") or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ("IBEW"). Approximately 12,000, or 26%, of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements that expired October 6, 2012, and an additional 1,600 or 4% of our employees are subject to additional collective bargaining agreement that have expired since then. Since the expirations, we have been negotiating the terms of new agreements. Recently, we reached conditional agreements with CWA District 7 and IBEW Local 206 for a four-year collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 12,000 of our employees. After rejecting the initial agreements, the CWA and IBEW members approved the second agreements, and they became effective on October 25, 2013. The new agreements will expire on October 7, 2017.

Repurchase_of_CenturyLink_Comm

Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock	'
	Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock
	In February 2013, the board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $2 billion of our outstanding common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we repurchased 35.2 million shares of our outstanding common stock in the open market. These shares were repurchased for an aggregate market price of $1.24 billion, or an average purchase price of $35.09 per share. The repurchased common stock has been retired. As of September 30, 2013, we had approximately $764 million in stock remaining available for repurchase under the Stock Repurchase Program. The figures set forth above exclude shares that, as of September 30, 2013, we had agreed to purchase under the program for $18 million, or an average purchase price of $31.76 per share, in transactions that settled early in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Other_Comprehensive_Earnings

Other Comprehensive Earnings	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]	'
Other Comprehensive Earnings	'
	Other Comprehensive Earnings
	The tables below summarize changes in our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) recorded on our consolidated balance sheet by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively:
		Pension Plans				Post-Retirement		Foreign Currency		Total
						Benefit Plans		Translation
								Adjustment
								and Other
		(Dollars in millions)
	Balance at June 30, 2013	$	(1,372	)		(288	)	(27	)	(1,687	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	—				—		13		13
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	13				1		—		14
	Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	13				1		13		27
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	(1,359	)		(287	)	(14	)	(1,660	)
		Pension Plans				Post-Retirement		Foreign Currency		Total
						Benefit Plans		Translation
								Adjustment
								and Other
		(Dollars in millions)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	(1,399	)		(289	)	(13	)	(1,701	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	—				—		(1	)	(1	)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	40				2		—		42
	Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	40				2		(1	)	41
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	(1,359	)		(287	)	(14	)	(1,660	)
	The tables below present information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively:
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013		Decrease (Increase)				Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of
			in Net Loss				Operations or Footnote Where Additional
							Information is Presented If The Amount is not
							Recognized in Net Income in Total
			(Dollars in millions)
	Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans
	Net actuarial loss		$	(21	)		See Note 5-Employee Benefits
	Prior service cost		(1		)		See Note 5-Employee Benefits
	Total before tax		(22		)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		8				Income tax expense
	Net of tax		$	(14	)
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013		Decrease (Increase)				Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of
			in Net Loss				Operations or Footnote Where Additional
							Information is Presented If The Amount is not
							Recognized in Net Income in Total
			(Dollars in millions)
	Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans
	Net actuarial loss		$	(64	)		See Note 5-Employee Benefits
	Prior service cost		(4		)		See Note 5-Employee Benefits
	Total before tax		(68		)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		26				Income tax expense
	Net of tax		$	(42	)

Goodwill_Tables

Goodwill (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of goodwill attributable to segments	'
	As of September 30, 2013, we attributed our aggregate goodwill balance, after recording the above-described impairment to our data hosting segment, to our four segments as follows:
		As of
		30-Sep-13
		(Dollars in millions)
	Consumer	$	10,379
	Business	6,413
	Wholesale	3,283
	Data hosting (1)	562
	Total goodwill	$	20,637

LongTerm_Debt_and_Credit_Facil1

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of long-term debt including unamortized discounts and premiums	'
	Long-term debt, including unamortized discounts and premiums, is as follows:
		Interest Rates	Maturities	30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
				(Dollars in millions)
	CenturyLink, Inc.
	Senior notes	5.000% - 7.650%	2015 - 2042	$	7,075		6,250
	Credit facility(1)	4.25%	2017	200			820
	Term loan	2.43%	2019	407			424
	Subsidiaries
	Qwest
	Senior notes	6.125% - 8.375%	2014 - 2053	9,192			9,168
	Embarq
	Senior notes	7.082% - 7.995%	2016 - 2036	2,669			2,669
	First mortgage bonds	7.125% - 8.770%	2014 - 2025	262			322
	Other	9.00%	2019	150			200
	Capital lease and other obligations	Various	Various	653			734
	Unamortized (discounts) premiums and other, net			(26		)	18
	Total long-term debt			20,582			20,605
	Less current maturities			(191		)	(1,205	)
	Long-term debt, excluding current maturities			$	20,391		19,400
	______________________________________________________________________________
	(1)	The outstanding amount of our Credit Facility borrowings at September 30, 2013 was $200 million with an interest rate of 4.250%. These amounts change on a regular basis.

Severance_and_Leased_Real_Esta1

Severance and Leased Real Estate (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of changes in accrued liabilities for severance expenses and leased real estate	'
	Changes in our accrued liabilities for severance expenses and leased real estate were as follows:
		Severance			Real Estate
		(Dollars in millions)
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	17		131
	Accrued to expense	17			—
	Payments, net	(23		)	(12	)
	Reversals and adjustments	—			(2	)
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	11		117

Employee_Benefits_Tables

Employee Benefits (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of components of net periodic pension benefit (income) expense and post-retirement benefit expense	'
		Pension Plans
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Service cost	$	22		23		70		68
	Interest cost	137			156		407		468
	Expected return on plan assets	(224		)	(212	)	(672	)	(636	)
	Recognition of prior service cost	1			1		4		3
	Recognition of actuarial loss	20			7		61		22
	Net periodic pension benefit expense (income)	$	(44	)	(25	)	(130	)	(75	)
	Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense (income) included the following components:
		Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Service cost	$	6		5		18		16
	Interest cost	35			44		105		131
	Expected return on plan assets	(10		)	(11	)	(30	)	(33	)
	Recognition of actuarial loss	1			—		3		—
	Net periodic post-retirement benefit expense (income)	$	32		38		96		114
	Net periodic pension benefit expense (income) included the following components:
		Pension Plans
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Service cost	$	22		23		70		68
	Interest cost	137			156		407		468
	Expected return on plan assets	(224		)	(212	)	(672	)	(636	)
	Recognition of prior service cost	1			1		4		3
	Recognition of actuarial loss	20			7		61		22
	Net periodic pension benefit expense (income)	$	(44	)	(25	)	(130	)	(75	)

Loss_Earnings_per_Common_Share1

(Loss) Earnings per Common Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of basic and diluted earnings per common share	'
	Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 were calculated as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts, shares in thousands)
	(Loss) Income (Numerator):
	Net (loss) income	$	(1,045	)	270		(478	)	544
	Earnings applicable to non-vested restricted stock	—			—		—		(1	)
	Net (loss) income applicable to common stock for computing basic (loss) earnings per common share	(1,045		)	270		(478	)	543
	Net (loss) income as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted (loss) earnings per common share	$	(1,045	)	270		(478	)	543
	Shares (Denominator):
	Weighted average number of shares:
	Outstanding during period	598,350			622,769		609,542		621,370
	Non-vested restricted stock	(3,763		)	(2,541	)	(3,438	)	(2,582	)
	Non-vested restricted stock units	—			920		—		960
	Weighted average shares outstanding for computing basic (loss) earnings per common share	594,587			621,148		606,104		619,748
	Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities:
	Shares issuable under convertible securities	—			13		—		13
	Shares issuable under incentive compensation plans	—			2,135		—		2,067
	Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted (loss) earnings per common share	594,587			623,296		606,104		621,828
	Basic (loss) earnings per common share	$	(1.76	)	0.43		(0.79	)	0.88
	Diluted (loss) earnings per common share (1)	$	(1.76	)	0.43		(0.79	)	0.87

Fair_Value_Disclosure_Tables

Fair Value Disclosure (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of the three input levels in the hierarchy of fair value measurements	'
	The three input levels in the hierarchy of fair value measurements are 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.
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 long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, as well as the input level used to determine the fair values:
				30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
		Input		Carrying		Fair	Carrying	Fair
		Level		Amount		Value	Amount	Value
		(Dollars in millions)
	Liabilities—Long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations	2		$	19,929	20,124	19,871	21,457

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of segment results	'
	We have restated previously reported segment results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, due to the above-described restructuring of our business. Segment results are summarized below:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Total segment revenues	$	4,267		4,314		12,799		13,004
	Total segment expenses	2,105			2,071		6,112		6,154
	Total segment income	$	2,162		2,243		6,687		6,850
	Total margin percentage	50.7		%	52	%	52.2	%	52.7	%
	Consumer:
	Revenues	$	1,503		1,536		4,508		4,640
	Expenses	580			585		1,657		1,720
	Income	$	923		951		2,851		2,920
	Margin percentage	61.4		%	61.9	%	63.2	%	62.9	%
	Business:
	Revenues	$	1,544		1,541		4,573		4,586
	Expenses	958			936		2,776		2,789
	Income	$	586		605		1,797		1,797
	Margin percentage	38		%	39.3	%	39.3	%	39.2	%
	Wholesale:
	Revenues	$	878		910		2,695		2,818
	Expenses	293			304		868		929
	Income	$	585		606		1,827		1,889
	Margin percentage	66.6		%	66.6	%	67.8	%	67	%
	Data hosting:
	Revenues	$	342		327		1,023		960
	Expenses	274			246		811		716
	Income	$	68		81		212		244
	Margin percentage	19.9		%	24.8	%	20.7	%	25.4	%
Schedule of operating revenues by products and services	'
	Our operating revenues for our products and services consisted of the following categories:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Strategic services	$	2,189		2,101		6,495		6,237
	Legacy services	1,915			2,045		5,834		6,284
	Data integration	163			168		470		483
	Other	248			257		754		789
	Total operating revenues	$	4,515		4,571		13,553		13,793
Schedule of reconciliation of segment income to net income	'
	The following table reconciles segment income to net (loss) income:
		Three Months Ended September 30,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012		2013		2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Total segment income	$	2,162		2,243		6,687		6,850
	Other operating revenues	248			257		754		789
	Depreciation and amortization	(1,135		)	(1,144	)	(3,375	)	(3,560	)
	Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	(1,100		)	—		(1,100	)	—
	Other unassigned operating expenses	(860		)	(620	)	(2,154	)	(2,032	)
	Other income (expense), net	(320		)	(314	)	(918	)	(1,171	)
	Income tax expense	(40		)	(152	)	(372	)	(332	)
	Net (loss) income	$	(1,045	)	270		(478	)	544

Other_Financial_Information_Ta

Other Financial Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of components of other current assets	'
	Other current assets reflected on our consolidated balance sheets consisted of the following:
		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(Dollars in millions)
	Prepaid expenses	$	277	257
	Materials, supplies and inventory	172		125
	Assets held for sale	—		96
	Deferred activation and installation charges	69		53
	Other	45		21
	Total other current assets	$	563	552
Schedule of current liabilities included accounts payable and other current liabilities	'
	Current liabilities reflected in our consolidated balance sheets include accounts payable and other current liabilities as follows:
		30-Sep-13		31-Dec-12
		(Dollars in millions)
	Accounts payable	$	1,158	1,207
	Other current liabilities:
	Accrued rent	$	46	48
	Legal reserves	266		39
	Unsettled repurchased common shares	18		—
	Other	168		147
	Total other current liabilities	$	498	234

Other_Comprehensive_Earnings_T

Other Comprehensive Earnings (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]	'
Summary of the entity's accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'
	The tables below summarize changes in our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) recorded on our consolidated balance sheet by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively:
		Pension Plans				Post-Retirement		Foreign Currency		Total
						Benefit Plans		Translation
								Adjustment
								and Other
		(Dollars in millions)
	Balance at June 30, 2013	$	(1,372	)		(288	)	(27	)	(1,687	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	—				—		13		13
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	13				1		—		14
	Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	13				1		13		27
	Balance at September 30, 2013	$	(1,359	)		(287	)	(14	)	(1,660	)
Schedule of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'
	The tables below present information about our reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively:
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013		Decrease (Increase)				Affected Line Item in Consolidated Statement of
			in Net Loss				Operations or Footnote Where Additional
							Information is Presented If The Amount is not
							Recognized in Net Income in Total
			(Dollars in millions)
	Amortization of pension & post-retirement plans
	Net actuarial loss		$	(21	)		See Note 5-Employee Benefits
	Prior service cost		(1		)		See Note 5-Employee Benefits
	Total before tax		(22		)
	Income tax expense (benefit)		8				Income tax expense
	Net of tax		$	(14	)

Basis_of_Presentation_Basis_of

Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
		Software and Software Development Costs [Member]	Accumulated amortization [Member]
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment	$170	$123	$30

Goodwill_Details

Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jan. 03, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment	'	$170	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	-1,100	'	0	-1,100	0	'	'
Goodwill	20,637	'	'	20,637	'	21,732	21,732
Consumer	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	10,379	'	'	10,379	'	10,379	'
Business	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	6,413	'	'	6,413	'	6,413	'
Wholesale	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	3,283	'	'	3,283	'	3,283	'
Data hosting	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Goodwill	$562	'	'	$562	'	$1,657	'

LongTerm_Debt_and_Credit_Facil2

Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities (Details) (USD $)

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Apr. 02, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 21, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 17, 2013

23-May-13

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 15, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

CenturyLink, Inc.

Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest Corporation

Qwest Corporation

Qwest Corporation

Qwest Corporation

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Embarq

Senior notes

Senior notes

Senior notes

Senior notes

5.50% Notes

Credit facility

Credit facility

Term loan

Term loan

5.625% Notes due 2020

5.625% Notes due 2020

5.625% Notes due 2020

Senior notes

Senior notes

Senior notes

Senior notes

Notes Bearing Floating Interest Rate Due 2013

6.125% Notes due 2053

Senior notes

Senior notes

Senior notes

Senior notes

First mortgage bonds

First mortgage bonds

First mortgage bonds

First mortgage bonds

First mortgage bonds

Other

Other

Minimum

Maximum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Minimum

Maximum

Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total long-term debt

'

'

$7,075,000,000

$6,250,000,000

'

'

'

$200,000,000

$820,000,000

$407,000,000

$424,000,000

'

'

'

$9,192,000,000

$9,168,000,000

'

'

'

'

$2,669,000,000

$2,669,000,000

'

'

$262,000,000

'

$322,000,000

'

'

$150,000,000

$200,000,000

Capital lease and other obligations

653,000,000

734,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Unamortized (discounts) premiums and other, net

26,000,000

-18,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total long-term debt

20,582,000,000

20,605,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Less current maturities

-191,000,000

-1,205,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities

20,391,000,000

19,400,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stated interest rate (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

5.00%

7.65%

5.50%

4.25%

'

2.43%

'

5.63%

'

'

'

'

6.13%

8.38%

'

6.13%

'

'

7.08%

8.00%

'

6.88%

'

7.13%

8.77%

9.00%

'

Aggregate principal amount of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

775,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Principal amount of debt that was sold pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net proceeds from issuance of debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

988,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

752,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption price of debt instrument that may be redeemed (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

105.63%

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Principal amount of notes issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of the principal amounts of the debt instrument, which the entity may redeem (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Principal amount of debt repaid

'

'

'

'

'

'

$176,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$750,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

$59,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount (as a percent)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

101.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Severance_and_Leased_Real_Esta2

Severance and Leased Real Estate (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Severance	'
Restructuring reserve	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	$17
Accrued to expense	17
Payments, net	-23
Reversals and adjustments	0
Balance at the end of the period	11
Leased real estate	'
Severance and Leased Real Estate	'
Current portion of leased real estate accrual	18
Noncurrent portion of leased real estate accrual	99
Restructuring reserve	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	131
Accrued to expense	0
Payments, net	-12
Reversals and adjustments	-2
Balance at the end of the period	$117
Ceased-use leased real estate accrual | Leased real estate | Minimum	'
Severance and Leased Real Estate	'
Remaining lease terms	'0 years 3 months 30 days
Ceased-use leased real estate accrual | Leased real estate | Maximum	'
Severance and Leased Real Estate	'
Remaining lease terms	'12 years 3 months 4 days
Ceased-use leased real estate accrual | Leased real estate | Weighted average	'
Severance and Leased Real Estate	'
Weighted average lease terms	'8 years 8 months 29 days

Employee_Benefits_Details

Employee Benefits (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Pension Plans	'	'	'	'
Components of net periodic (benefit) expense	'	'	'	'
Service cost	$22	$23	$70	$68
Interest cost	137	156	407	468
Expected return on plan assets	-224	-212	-672	-636
Recognition of prior service cost	1	1	4	3
Recognition of actuarial loss	20	7	61	22
Net periodic benefit (income) expense	-44	-25	-130	-75
Post-Retirement Benefit Plans	'	'	'	'
Components of net periodic (benefit) expense	'	'	'	'
Service cost	6	5	18	16
Interest cost	35	44	105	131
Expected return on plan assets	-10	-11	-30	-33
Recognition of actuarial loss	1	0	3	0
Net periodic benefit (income) expense	$32	$38	$96	$114

Loss_Earnings_per_Common_Share2

(Loss) Earnings per Common Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income (Numerator):	'	'	'	'
NET (LOSS) INCOME	($1,045)	$270	($478)	$544
Earnings applicable to non-vested restricted stock	0	0	0	-1
Net (loss) income applicable to common stock for computing basic (loss) earnings per common share	-1,045	270	-478	543
Net (loss) income as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted (loss) earnings per common share	($1,045)	$270	($478)	$543
Weighted average number of shares:	'	'	'	'
Outstanding during period (in shares)	598,350,000	622,769,000	609,542,000	621,370,000
Non-vested restricted stock (in shares)	-3,763,000	-2,541,000	-3,438,000	-2,582,000
Non-vested restricted stock units (in shares)	0	920,000	0	960,000
Weighted average shares outstanding for computing basic (loss) earnings per common share (in shares)	594,587,000	621,148,000	606,104,000	619,748,000
Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities:	'	'	'	'
Shares issuable under convertible securities (in shares)	0	13,000	0	13,000
Shares issuable under incentive compensation plans (in shares)	0	2,135,000	0	2,067,000
Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing diluted (loss) earnings per common share (in shares)	594,587,000	623,296,000	606,104,000	621,828,000
Basic earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Basic (loss) earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	($1.76)	$0.43	($0.79)	$0.88
Diluted earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	($1.76)	$0.43	($0.79)	$0.87
Number of shares of common stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	1,160,000	'	1,370,000	'
Stock option awards	'	'	'	'
Diluted earnings per common share:	'	'	'	'
Number of shares of common stock excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	2,700,000	2,000,000	2,500,000	2,200,000

Fair_Value_Disclosure_Details

Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (Fair value, Level 2, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Carrying Amount	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Liabilities - Long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations	$19,929	$19,871
Fair Value	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
Liabilities - Long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations	$20,124	$21,457

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
			segment
Segment information	'	'	'	'
Number of operating segments (segments)	'	'	4	'
Expenses	$5,200	$3,835	$12,741	$11,746
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	-685	736	812	2,047
Operating segments	'	'	'	'
Segment information	'	'	'	'
Revenues	4,267	4,314	12,799	13,004
Expenses	2,105	2,071	6,112	6,154
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	2,162	2,243	6,687	6,850
Margin percentage (percent)	50.70%	52.00%	52.20%	52.70%
Consumer	'	'	'	'
Segment information	'	'	'	'
Revenues	1,503	1,536	4,508	4,640
Expenses	580	585	1,657	1,720
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	923	951	2,851	2,920
Margin percentage (percent)	61.40%	61.90%	63.20%	62.90%
Business	'	'	'	'
Segment information	'	'	'	'
Revenues	1,544	1,541	4,573	4,586
Expenses	958	936	2,776	2,789
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	586	605	1,797	1,797
Margin percentage (percent)	38.00%	39.30%	39.30%	39.20%
Wholesale	'	'	'	'
Segment information	'	'	'	'
Revenues	878	910	2,695	2,818
Expenses	293	304	868	929
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	585	606	1,827	1,889
Margin percentage (percent)	66.60%	66.60%	67.80%	67.00%
Data Hosting	'	'	'	'
Segment information	'	'	'	'
Revenues	342	327	1,023	960
Expenses	274	246	811	716
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	$68	$81	$212	$244
Margin percentage (percent)	19.90%	24.80%	20.70%	25.40%

Segment_Information_Details_2

Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
			category
Operating revenues by products and services	'	'	'	'
Number of groups of products and services (categories)	'	'	4	'
Number of groups of products and services included in segment revenue (categories)	'	'	3	'
Other operating revenue	$4,515	$4,571	$13,553	$13,793
Surcharge amount on customers' bills	'	'	368	398
Strategic services	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues by products and services	'	'	'	'
Other operating revenue	2,189	2,101	6,495	6,237
Legacy services	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues by products and services	'	'	'	'
Other operating revenue	1,915	2,045	5,834	6,284
Data integration	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues by products and services	'	'	'	'
Other operating revenue	163	168	470	483
Other	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues by products and services	'	'	'	'
Other operating revenue	$248	$257	$754	$789

Segment_Information_Details_3

Segment Information (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation from segment income to net income	'	'	'	'
Total segment income	($685)	$736	$812	$2,047
Other operating revenue	4,515	4,571	13,553	13,793
Depreciation and amortization	-1,135	-1,144	-3,375	-3,560
Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	1,100	0	1,100	0
Other unassigned operating expenses	-1,047	-748	-2,679	-2,454
Other income (expense), net	-320	-314	-918	-1,171
Income tax expense	-40	-152	-372	-332
Net (loss) income	-1,045	270	-478	544
Operating segments	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation from segment income to net income	'	'	'	'
Total segment income	2,162	2,243	6,687	6,850
Unallocated amount to segment	'	'	'	'
Reconciliation from segment income to net income	'	'	'	'
Other operating revenue	248	257	754	789
Depreciation and amortization	1,135	1,144	3,375	3,560
Impairment of goodwill (Note 2)	-1,100	0	-1,100	0
Other unassigned operating expenses	860	620	2,154	2,032
Other income (expense), net	-320	-314	-918	-1,171
Income tax expense	$40	$152	$372	$332

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Details)

1 Months Ended

24 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Aug. 31, 2010

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2009

Dec. 31, 2007

Sep. 30, 2013

Jul. 17, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2009

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Pending litigation related to Federal Communications Act

Pending litigation related to Federal Communications Act

Pending litigation related to Federal Communications Act

William Douglas Fulghum, et al. v. Embarq Corporation

Abbott et al. v. Sprint Nextel et al.

Comcast

KPNQwest

KPNQwest

KPNQwest

Cargill Financial Markets, Plc and Citibank, N.A.

Cargill Financial Markets, Plc and Citibank, N.A.

Fiber-optic cable installation

Securities Actions

Derivative actions

lawsuit

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

plaintiff

Qwest

USD ($)

EUR (€)

lawsuit

USD ($)

EUR (€)

Qwest

lawsuit

lawsuit

USD ($)

state

lawsuit

Commitments and Contingencies

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of lawsuits filed (lawsuits)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

'

'

'

'

'

Charges claimed against Sprint Nextel

'

'

$34

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of claims with favorable ruling (lawsuits)

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Charges received from Sprint Nextel

'

24

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effect of modifications made to Embarq's benefits program, greater than

'

'

'

300

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number of plaintiffs have alleged breach of fiduciary duty (plaintiffs)

'

'

'

'

1,500

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Litigation Matters Assumed in Qwest Acquisition

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Damages sought by plaintiff

'

'

'

'

'

$80

$5,700

€ 4,200

'

$296

€ 219

'

'

'

Number of states in which service is provided (states)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

34

'

'

Number of action pending before the Illinois Court of Appeals to be brought on behalf of landowner in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin (lawsuit)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

Number of states in which final approval of settlements received (states)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

29

'

'

Number of states in which preliminary approval of settlements were received (states)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

Number of states in which preliminary or final approval of settlements have not yet been received (states)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

Number of actions (lawsuits)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2

4

Other_Financial_Information_De

Other Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Current Assets	'	'	'	'
Prepaid expenses	'	$277	'	$257
Materials, supplies and inventory	'	172	'	125
Assets held for sale	'	0	'	96
Deferred activation and installation charges	'	69	'	53
Other	'	45	'	21
Total other current assets	'	563	'	552
Sale of wireless spectrum assets	43	'	'	'
Gain on sale of wireless spectrum assets	32	'	'	'
Reclassification of assets from held for sale to other intangible assets	'	'	53	'
Current liabilities	'	'	'	'
Accounts payable	'	1,158	'	1,207
Other current liabilities:	'	'	'	'
Accrued rent	'	46	'	48
Legal reserves	'	266	'	39
Unsettled repurchased common shares	'	18	'	0
Other	'	168	'	147
Total other current liabilities	'	498	'	234
Book overdraft balance	'	$132	'	$132

Labor_Union_Contracts_Details

Labor Union Contracts (Details)	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 30, 2013
		Collective bargaining agreements that expired on October 6, 2012	Collective bargaining agreements that expired after October 6, 2012	Employees covered under collective bargaining agreements
		Employee	Employee	Employee
Labor Union Contracts	'	'	'	'
Percentage of employees who are members of bargaining units (as a percent)	37.00%	'	'	'
Number of employees covered under the agreement (employees)	'	12,000	1,600	12,000
Percentage of concentration risk (as a percent)	'	26.00%	4.00%	'
Period of labor contract	'	'	'	'4 years

Repurchase_of_CenturyLink_Comm1

Repurchase of CenturyLink Common Stock (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'	'
Stock repurchases, aggregate authorized amount	$2,000,000,000	'
Number of shares repurchased (shares)	'	35.2
Aggregate market price of shares repurchased	'	1,240,000,000
Average purchase price at which shares were repurchased (in dollars per share)	'	$35.09
Stock repurchases, remaining authorized amount	'	764,000,000
Aggregate market value of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the fourth quarter of 2013	'	$18,000,000
Average purchase price of shares agreed to be repurchased, in transactions that will settle early in the fourth quarter of 2013 (in dollars per share)	'	$31.76

Other_Comprehensive_Earnings_D

Other Comprehensive Earnings (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	($1,687)	'	($1,701)	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	13	'	-1	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	14	'	42	'
Other comprehensive income	27	14	41	28
Balance at the end of the period	-1,660	'	-1,660	'
Defined benefit plan | Pension Plans	'	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	-1,372	'	-1,399	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	0	'	0	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	13	'	40	'
Other comprehensive income	13	'	40	'
Balance at the end of the period	-1,359	'	-1,359	'
Defined benefit plan | Post-Retirement Benefit Plans	'	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	-288	'	-289	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	0	'	0	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	1	'	2	'
Other comprehensive income	1	'	2	'
Balance at the end of the period	-287	'	-287	'
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment and Other	'	'	'	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'	'	'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	-27	'	-13	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	13	'	-1	'
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	'	0	'
Other comprehensive income	13	'	-1	'
Balance at the end of the period	($14)	'	($14)	'

Other_Comprehensive_Earnings_D1

Other Comprehensive Earnings (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'	'	'	'
Total before tax	$1,005	($422)	$106	($876)
Income tax expense (benefit)	-40	-152	-372	-332
NET INCOME	-1,045	270	-478	544
Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'	'	'	'
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component	'	'	'	'
Net actuarial loss	21	'	64	'
Prior service cost	-1	'	-4	'
Total before tax	22	'	68	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	8	'	26	'
NET INCOME	($14)	'	($42)	'