Qwest Corp. NT (CTBB) 10-Q 13 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 13, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'QWEST CORP	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000068622	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	1

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
OPERATING REVENUES	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$1,699	$1,749	$5,125	$5,298
Operating revenues-affiliates	489	434	1,421	1,340
Total operating revenues	2,188	2,183	6,546	6,638
OPERATING EXPENSES	'	'	'	'
Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	715	737	2,050	2,174
Selling, general and administrative	262	249	801	899
Operating expenses-affiliates	183	169	530	474
Depreciation and amortization	535	569	1,594	1,711
Total operating expenses	1,695	1,724	4,975	5,258
OPERATING INCOME	493	459	1,571	1,380
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	-116	-109	-336	-334
Interest expense-affiliate	-20	-4	-48	-8
Net loss on early retirement of debt	0	-1	0	-47
Other income (expense)	0	0	1	-1
Total other income (expense)	-136	-114	-383	-390
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE	357	345	1,188	990
Income tax expense	139	133	460	382
NET INCOME	$218	$212	$728	$608

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 INCOME	$218	$212	$728	$608
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:	'	'	'	'
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$218	$212	$728	$608

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
CURRENT ASSETS	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$13	$8
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $42 and $46	740	709
Advances to affiliates	712	593
Deferred income taxes, net	145	149
Other	123	114
Total current assets	1,733	1,573
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	10,042	9,242
Accumulated depreciation	-2,788	-2,011
Net property, plant and equipment	7,254	7,231
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS	'	'
Goodwill	9,369	9,369
Customer relationships, less accumulated amortization of $1,843 and $1,320	3,856	4,379
Other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of $910 and $704	1,061	1,212
Other	214	181
Total goodwill and other assets	14,500	15,141
TOTAL ASSETS	23,487	23,945
CURRENT LIABILITIES	'	'
Current maturities of long-term debt	42	804
Accounts payable	475	456
Note payable-affiliate	741	701
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	'	'
Salaries and benefits	229	253
Income and other taxes	218	215
Interest	121	83
Other	41	19
Advance billings and customer deposits	328	301
Total current liabilities	2,195	2,832
LONG-TERM DEBT	7,540	6,821
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES	'	'
Deferred revenue	143	130
Deferred income taxes, net	2,443	2,629
Affiliates obligations, net	1,314	1,442
Other	100	117
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	4,000	4,318
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6)	'	'
STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY	'	'
Common stock-one share without par value, owned by Qwest Services Corporation	10,050	10,050
Accumulated deficit	-298	-76
Total stockholder's equity	9,752	9,974
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY	$23,487	$23,945

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable, allowance (in dollars)	$42	$46
Customer relationships, accumulated amortization	1,843	1,320
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$910	$704
Common stock, share outstanding (in shares)	1	1

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 income	$728	$608
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	1,594	1,711
Deferred income taxes	-180	-123
Provision for uncollectible accounts	46	59
Long-term debt premium amortization	-40	-50
Net loss on early retirement of debt	0	47
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-77	-77
Accounts payable	17	-53
Accrued income and other taxes	3	5
Other current assets and other current liabilities, net	68	59
Changes in other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	-6	-11
Changes in other noncurrent assets and liabilities-affiliates	-130	-101
Other, net	9	5
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,032	2,079
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Payments for property, plant and equipment and capitalized software	-956	-896
Changes in advances to affiliates	-119	-533
Proceeds from sale of property	0	133
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,075	-1,296
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	'	'
Net proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	752	896
Payments of long-term debt	-794	-1,419
Early retirement of debt costs	0	-178
Dividends paid to Qwest Services Corporation	-950	-700
Changes in notes payable-affiliates	40	685
Changes in advances from affiliates	0	-61
Net cash provided by financing activities	-952	-777
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	5	6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8	3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	13	9
Supplemental cash flow information:	'	'
Income taxes (paid), net	-636	-359
Interest (paid) (net of capitalized interest of $12 and $14)	($344)	($355)

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	$12	$14

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY (USD $)	Total	COMMON STOCK	(ACCUMULATED DEFICIT) RETAINED EARNINGS
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011	'	$9,950	($85)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity	'	'	'
Tax benefit of pension deduction	'	119	'
Net income	608	'	'
Dividends declared to Qwest Services Corporation	'	'	-390
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2012	10,202	10,069	133
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2012	9,974	10,050	-76
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholder's Equity	'	'	'
Tax benefit of pension deduction	'	0	'
Net income	728	'	728
Dividends declared to Qwest Services Corporation	'	'	-950
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2013	$9,752	$10,050	($298)

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [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 voice, network access, private line (including special access), broadband, Ethernet, data, wireless and video services. In certain local and regional markets, we also provide local access and fiber transport services to competitive local exchange carriers. We are an indirect subsidiary of Qwest Communications International Inc. ("QCII"), which was acquired by CenturyLink, Inc. ("CenturyLink") on April 1, 2011.
	We generate the majority of our revenues from services provided in the 14-state region of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. We refer to this region as our local service area.
	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.
	Out-of-Period Adjustment
	In conjunction with finalizing our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K, we discovered that certain transactions with affiliates had been presented incorrectly in our consolidated statement of cash flows for the period ended September 30, 2012. We considered both quantitative and qualitative factors in reaching the conclusion that the correction of the error was immaterial to our previously issued consolidated financial statements. Correcting this error only affected our consolidated statement of cash flows, with the impact for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 presented herein, being as follows (in millions):
		As Reported			Error Correction		Restated
	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	2,713		(634	)	2,079
	Net cash used in investing activities	(1,784		)	488		(1,296	)
	Net cash used in financing activities	(923		)	146		(777	)

Goodwill

Goodwill	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill	'
	Goodwill
	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 one reporting unit, Qwest.
	We compare Qwest’s estimated fair value to the carrying value of equity. If the estimated fair value of Qwest is greater than the carrying value, we conclude that no impairment exists. If the estimated fair value of the Qwest 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. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value of goodwill, goodwill must be written down to its implied fair value.
	At September 30, 2013, as a result of changes in our forecasted cash flows since our previous quantitative assessment, we did not have a baseline valuation upon which to perform a qualitative 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 beyond the cash flows from the discrete projection period.
	Our ultimate parent, CenturyLink, has not completed its goodwill impairment test as of September 30, 2013, and as a result, we also have not completed our impairment test; however, based on our analysis performed thus far, we do not anticipate an impairment of our goodwill. We expect to complete our impairment analysis prior to reporting our financial results for the fourth quarter of 2013.

LongTerm_Debt_and_Revolving_Pr

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note	'
	Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note
	Long-term debt, including unamortized discounts and premiums, is as follows:
		Interest Rates	Maturities	30-Sep-13			31-Dec-12
				(Dollars in millions)
	Senior notes	6.125% - 8.375%	2014 - 2053	$	7,411		7,386
	Capital lease and other obligations	Various	Various	85			112
	Unamortized premiums, net			86			127
	Total long-term debt			7,582			7,625
	Less current maturities			(42		)	(804	)
	Long-term debt, excluding current maturities			$	7,540		6,821
	New Issuance
	On May 23, 2013, 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.
	Repayment
	On June 17, 2013, QC paid at maturity the $750 million principal amount of its floating rate Notes.
	Revolving Promissory Note
	QC has a revolving promissory note with an affiliate of our ultimate parent, CenturyLink, Inc. ("CenturyLink") that provides us with a funding commitment with an aggregate principal amount available of $1.0 billion through June 30, 2022, of which $741 million was outstanding as of September 30, 2013. As of September 30, 2013, the weighted average interest rate under this note was 6.783%. This revolving promissory note and accrued interest thereon is reflected on our consolidated balance sheets as a current liability under note payable—affiliate.
	Covenants
	As of September 30, 2013, we believe we were in compliance with the provisions and covenants of our debt agreements.

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, advances to affiliates, accounts payable, note payable—affiliate 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, advances to affiliates, accounts payable, and note payable—affiliate 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		$	7,497	7,450	7,513	8,019

Products_and_Services_Revenues

Products and Services Revenues	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Products and Services Revenues	'
	Products and Services Revenues
	We are an integrated communications company engaged primarily in providing an array of communications services, including local voice, network access, private line (including special access), broadband, Ethernet, data, wireless and video services. We strive to maintain our customer relationships by, among other things, bundling our service offerings to provide our customers with a complete offering of integrated communications services. We categorize our products and services revenues into the following three categories:
	•	Strategic services, which include primarily private line (including special access), broadband, Ethernet, video (including resold satellite video services) and Verizon Wireless services;
	•	Legacy services, which include primarily local voice, Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") (which uses regular telephone lines to support voice, video and data applications), switched access and traditional wide area network ("WAN") services (which allows a local communications network to link to networks in remote locations); and
	•	Affiliates and other services, which consist primarily of Universal Service Fund ("USF") revenues and surcharges and services we provide to our non-consolidated affiliates. We provide to our affiliates telecommunication services that we also provide to external customers. In addition, we provide to our affiliates computer system development and support services as well as network support and technical services.
	Our operating revenues for our products and services consisted of the following categories:
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013		2012	2013	2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Strategic services	$	835	819	2,495	2,442
	Legacy services	797		860	2,427	2,634
	Affiliates and other services	556		504	1,624	1,562
	Total operating revenues	$	2,188	2,183	6,546	6,638
	We do not have any single external customer that provides more than 10% of our total revenue. Substantially all of our revenue comes from customers located in the United States.
	Affiliates and other services 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.
	The table below presents the aggregate USF surcharges recognized on a gross basis:
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013		2012	2013	2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	USF and surcharges included in operating revenues and expenses	$	39	42	116	129
	Our operations are integrated into and reported as part of the segments of CenturyLink. CenturyLink's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") is our CODM, but reviews our financial information on an aggregate basis only in connection with our quarterly and annual reports that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, we do not provide our discrete financial information to the CODM on a regular basis. As such, we have one reportable segment.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies
	CenturyLink and Qwest Communications International Inc. ("QCII") are involved in several legal proceedings to which we are not a party that, if resolved against them, could have a material adverse effect on their business and financial condition. As an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CenturyLink, our business and financial condition could be similarly affected. You can find descriptions of these legal proceedings in CenturyLink's and QCII's quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC. Because we are not a party to any of these matters, we have not accrued any liabilities for these 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.

Labor_Union_Contracts

Labor Union Contracts	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Labor Union Contracts	'
Labor Union Contracts	'
	Labor Union Contracts
	Approximately 12,000 or 53% 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") and are subject to collective bargaining agreements that expired October 6, 2012. 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.

Dividends

Dividends	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Dividends	'
Dividends	'
	Dividends
	During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we paid dividends to Qwest Services Corporation ("QSC") of $950 million, all of which were declared during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Dividends paid are reflected on our consolidated statements of cash flows as financing activities.

Basis_of_Presentation_Tables

Basis of Presentation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of correcting error	'
	Correcting this error only affected our consolidated statement of cash flows, with the impact for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 presented herein, being as follows (in millions):
		As Reported			Error Correction		Restated
	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	2,713		(634	)	2,079
	Net cash used in investing activities	(1,784		)	488		(1,296	)
	Net cash used in financing activities	(923		)	146		(777	)

LongTerm_Debt_and_Revolving_Pr1

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note (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)
	Senior notes	6.125% - 8.375%	2014 - 2053	$	7,411		7,386
	Capital lease and other obligations	Various	Various	85			112
	Unamortized premiums, net			86			127
	Total long-term debt			7,582			7,625
	Less current maturities			(42		)	(804	)
	Long-term debt, excluding current maturities			$	7,540		6,821

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		$	7,497	7,450	7,513	8,019

Products_and_Services_Revenues1

Products and Services Revenues (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of operating revenues by products and services	'
	Our operating revenues for our products and services consisted of the following categories:
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013		2012	2013	2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	Strategic services	$	835	819	2,495	2,442
	Legacy services	797		860	2,427	2,634
	Affiliates and other services	556		504	1,624	1,562
	Total operating revenues	$	2,188	2,183	6,546	6,638
Schedule of aggregate USF surcharges recognized on a gross basis	'
	The table below presents the aggregate USF surcharges recognized on a gross basis:
		Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
		September 30,			September 30,
		2013		2012	2013	2012
		(Dollars in millions)
	USF and surcharges included in operating revenues and expenses	$	39	42	116	129

Basis_of_Presentation_Details

Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	state
Number of states in which service is provided (states)	14	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	$2,032	$2,079
Net cash used in investing activities	-1,075	-1,296
Net cash used in financing activities	-952	-777
Correction of presentation of certain transactions with affiliates in consolidated statements of cash flows | As Reported	'	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	'	2,713
Net cash used in investing activities	'	-1,784
Net cash used in financing activities	'	-923
Correction of presentation of certain transactions with affiliates in consolidated statements of cash flows | Error Correction	'	'
Net cash provided by operating activities	'	-634
Net cash used in investing activities	'	488
Net cash used in financing activities	'	$146

LongTerm_Debt_and_Revolving_Pr2

Long-Term Debt and Revolving Promissory Note (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended								0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	23-May-13	Jun. 17, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
			Senior notes	Senior notes	Senior notes	Senior notes	Capital lease and other obligations	Capital lease and other obligations	6.125% Notes due 2053	Floating rate notes due 2013	Revolving promissory note
					Minimum	Maximum			Qwest Corporation	Qwest Corporation	CenturyLink, Inc. affiliate
Long-term debt	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest rate (as a percent)	'	'	'	'	6.13%	8.38%	'	'	6.13%	'	'
Unamortized premiums, net	$86,000,000	$127,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total long-term debt	7,582,000,000	7,625,000,000	7,411,000,000	7,386,000,000	'	'	85,000,000	112,000,000	'	'	'
Less current maturities	-42,000,000	-804,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	7,540,000,000	6,821,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Principal amount of notes issued	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	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	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	752,000,000	'	'
Redemption price as a percentage of principal amount of notes plus accrued interest (as a percent)	100.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Principal amount of notes repaid	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	750,000,000	'
Maximum borrowing capacity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,000,000,000
Amount outstanding	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$741,000,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6.78%

Fair_Value_Disclosure_Details

Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (Input Level 2, Fair Value, USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Carrying Amount	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
LiabilitiesbLong-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations	$7,497	$7,513
Fair Value	'	'
Liabilities	'	'
LiabilitiesbLong-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations	$7,450	$8,019

Products_and_Services_Revenues2

Products and Services Revenues (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
			category
Products and Services Revenues	'	'	'	'
Number of categories of products and services (categories)	'	'	3	'
Operating revenues	$2,188	$2,183	$6,546	$6,638
USF and surcharges included in operating revenues and expenses	39	42	116	129
Number of reportable segments (segments)	'	'	1	'
Strategic services	'	'	'	'
Products and Services Revenues	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	835	819	2,495	2,442
Legacy services	'	'	'	'
Products and Services Revenues	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	797	860	2,427	2,634
Affiliates and other services	'	'	'	'
Products and Services Revenues	'	'	'	'
Operating revenues	$556	$504	$1,624	$1,562

Labor_Union_Contracts_Details

Labor Union Contracts (Details)	9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 30, 2013	Jul. 30, 2013
	Collective bargaining agreements that expired on October 6, 2012	Collective bargaining agreements that expired on October 6, 2012	Employees covered under collective bargaining agreements
		Employee	Employee
Labor Union Contracts	'	'	'
Number of employees covered under the agreement (employees)	'	12,000	12,000
Approximate percentage of employees who are members of bargaining units (as a percent)	53.00%	'	'
Period of labor contract	'	'	'4 years

Dividends_Details

Dividends (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Dividends	'	'
Dividends paid to Qwest Services Corporation	$950	$700