AT&T (T) 10-Q 5 Aug 20 2020 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares shares in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0000732717
Entity File Number	001-8610
Entity Registrant Name	AT&T INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	43-1301883
Entity Address, Address Line One	208 S. Akard St.
Entity Address, City or Town	Dallas
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	75202
City Area Code	210
Local Phone Number	821-4105
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		7,125
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Shares (Par Value $1.00 Per Share)
Trading Symbol	T
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of 5.000% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of 5.000% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A
Trading Symbol	T PRA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of 4.750% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1000th interest in a share of 4.750% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C
Trading Symbol	T PRC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. Floating Rate Due August 3, 2020 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. Floating Rate Global Notes due August 3, 2020
Trading Symbol	T 20C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.875% Global Notes due December 4, 2020 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.875% Global Notes due December 4, 2020
Trading Symbol	T 20
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.650% Global Notes due December 17, 2021 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.650% Global Notes due December 17, 2021
Trading Symbol	T 21B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.450% Global Notes due June 1, 2022 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.450% Global Notes due June 1, 2022
Trading Symbol	T 22B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.500% Global Notes due March 15, 2023 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.500% Global Notes due March 15, 2023
Trading Symbol	T 23
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.750% Global Notes due May 19, 2023 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.750% Global Notes due May 19, 2023
Trading Symbol	T 23C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. Floating Rate Due September 5, 2023 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. Floating Rate Global Notes due September 5, 2023
Trading Symbol	T 23D
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.050% Global Notes due September 5, 2023 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.050% Global Notes due September 5, 2023
Trading Symbol	T 23E
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.300% Global Notes due September 5, 2023 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.300% Global Notes due September 5, 2023
Trading Symbol	T 23A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.950% Global Notes due September 15, 2023 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.950% Global Notes due September 15, 2023
Trading Symbol	T 23F
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.400% Global Notes due March 15, 2024 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.400% Global Notes due March 15, 2024
Trading Symbol	T 24A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 3.500% Global Notes due December 17, 2025 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 3.500% Global Notes due December 17, 2025
Trading Symbol	T 25
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 0.250% Global Notes due March 4, 2026 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 0.250% Global Notes due March 4, 2026
Trading Symbol	T 26E
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.800% Global Notes due September 5, 2026 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.800% Global Notes due September 5, 2026
Trading Symbol	T 26D
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.900% Global Notes due December 4, 2026 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.900% Global Notes due December 4, 2026
Trading Symbol	T 26A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.600% Global Notes due May 19, 2028 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.600% Global Notes due May 19, 2028
Trading Symbol	T 28C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.350% Global Notes due September 5, 2029 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.350% Global Notes due September 5, 2029
Trading Symbol	T 29D
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 4.375% Global Notes due September 14, 2029 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 4.375% Global Notes due September 14, 2029
Trading Symbol	T 29B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.600% Global Notes due December 17, 2029 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.600% Global Notes due December 17, 2029
Trading Symbol	T 29A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 0.800% Global Notes due March 4, 2030 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 0.800% Global Notes due March 4, 2030
Trading Symbol	T 30B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.050% Global Notes due May 19, 2032 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.050% Global Notes due May 19, 2032
Trading Symbol	T 32A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 3.550% Global Notes due December 17, 2032 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 3.550% Global Notes due December 17, 2032
Trading Symbol	T 32
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 5.200% Global Notes due November 18, 2033 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 5.200% Global Notes due November 18, 2033
Trading Symbol	T 33
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 3.375% Global Notes due March 15, 2034 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 3.375% Global Notes due March 15, 2034
Trading Symbol	T 34
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.450% Global Notes Due March 15, 2035 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.450% Global Notes due March 15, 2035
Trading Symbol	T 35
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 3.150% Global Notes due September 4, 2036 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 3.150% Global Notes due September 4, 2036
Trading Symbol	T 36A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 2.600% Global Notes due May 19, 2038 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 2.600% Global Notes due May 19, 2038
Trading Symbol	T 38C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 1.800% Global Notes due September 14, 2039 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 1.800% Global Notes due September 14, 2039
Trading Symbol	T 39B
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 7.000% Global Notes Due April 30, 2040 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 7.000% Global Notes due April 30, 2040
Trading Symbol	T 40
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 4.250% Global Notes due June 1, 2043 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 4.250% Global Notes due June 1, 2043
Trading Symbol	T 43
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 4.875% Global Notes due June 1, 2044 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 4.875% Global Notes due June 1, 2044
Trading Symbol	T 44
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 4.000% Global Notes due June 1, 2049 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 4.000% Global Notes due June 1, 2049
Trading Symbol	T 49A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 4.250% Global Notes due March 1, 2050 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 4.250% Global Notes due March 1, 2050
Trading Symbol	T 50
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 3.750% Global Notes due September 1, 2050 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 3.750% Global Notes due September 1, 2050
Trading Symbol	T 50A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 5.350% Global Notes due November 1, 2066 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 5.350% Global Notes due November 1, 2066
Trading Symbol	TBB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
AT&T Inc. 5.625% Global Notes due August 1, 2067 [Member]
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	AT&T Inc. 5.625% Global Notes due August 1, 2067
Trading Symbol	TBC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

Consolidated Statements Of Inco

Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 40,950	$ 44,957	$ 83,729	$ 89,784
Cost of Revenues
Other cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	8,116	8,721	16,458	17,306
Selling, general and administrative	9,831	9,844	18,591	19,493
Asset impairments and abandonments	2,319	0	2,442	0
Depreciation and amortization	7,285	7,101	14,507	14,307
Total operating expenses	37,418	37,457	72,711	75,051
Operating Income	3,532	7,500	11,018	14,733
Other Income (Expense)
Interest expense	(2,041)	(2,149)	(4,059)	(4,290)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	(10)	40	(16)	33
Other income (expense) - net	1,017	(318)	1,820	(32)
Total other income (expense)	(1,034)	(2,427)	(2,255)	(4,289)
Income Before Income Taxes	2,498	5,073	8,763	10,444
Income tax expense	935	1,099	2,237	2,122
Net Income	1,563	3,974	6,526	8,322
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(282)	(261)	(635)	(513)
Net Income Attributable to AT&T	1,281	3,713	5,891	7,809
Less: Preferred Stock Dividends	(52)	0	(84)	0
Net Income Attributable to Common Stock	$ 1,229	$ 3,713	$ 5,807	$ 7,809
Basic Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stock	$ 0.17	$ 0.51	$ 0.81	$ 1.06
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stock	$ 0.17	$ 0.51	$ 0.81	$ 1.06
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - Basic (in millions)	7,145	7,323	7,166	7,318
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding - with Dilution (in millions)	7,170	7,353	7,192	7,347
Service
Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues	$ 37,051	$ 41,023	$ 75,934	$ 81,707
Equipment
Operating Revenues
Total operating revenues	3,899	3,934	7,795	8,077
Cost of Revenues
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	3,978	4,061	8,070	8,563
Broadcast, programming and operations
Cost of Revenues
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 5,889	$ 7,730	$ 12,643	$ 15,382

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 1,563	$ 3,974	$ 6,526	$ 8,322
Foreign currency:
Translation adjustment (includes $(8), $2, $(59) and $2 attributable to noncontrolling interest), net of taxes of $(135), $(1), $(197) and $48	305	(127)	(1,549)	161
Securities:
Net unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $5, $10, $27 and $15	14	26	80	42
Derivative instruments:
Net unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $168, $(165), $(803) and $(131)	631	(617)	(3,026)	(490)
Reclassification adjustment included in net income, net of taxes of $4, $3, $4 and $5	17	6	17	17
Defined benefit postretirement plans:
Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income, net of taxes of $(150), $(107), $(301) and $(220)	(461)	(342)	(922)	(688)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	506	(1,054)	(5,400)	(958)
Total comprehensive income	2,069	2,920	1,126	7,364
Less: Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(274)	(263)	(576)	(515)
Total Comprehensive Income Attributable to AT&T	$ 1,795	$ 2,657	$ 550	$ 6,849

Consolidated Statements of Co_2

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes	$ (8)	$ 2	$ (59)	$ 2
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax effect	(135)	(1)	(197)	48
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities - tax effect	5	10	27	15
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives - tax effect	168	(165)	(803)	(131)
Reclassification adjustment included in net income on derivatives - tax effect	4	3	4	5
Amortization of net prior service credit included in net income, tax effect	$ (150)	$ (107)	$ (301)	$ (220)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 16,941	$ 12,130
Accounts receivable - net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $1,606 and $1,235	19,127	22,636
Prepaid expenses	1,439	1,631
Other current assets	19,048	18,364
Total current assets	56,555	54,761
Noncurrent Assets
Noncurrent Inventories and Theatrical Film and Television Production Costs	14,514	12,434
Property, plant and equipment	332,883	333,538
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(203,938)	(203,410)
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net	128,945	130,128
Goodwill	143,651	146,241
Licenses - Net	98,763	97,907
Other Intangible Assets - Net	18,452	20,798
Investments in and Advances to Equity Affiliates	2,302	3,695
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets	24,692	24,039
Other Assets	21,563	22,754
Total Assets	547,898	551,669
Current Liabilities
Debt maturing within one year	15,576	11,838
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	41,881	45,956
Advanced billings and customer deposit	5,723	6,124
Accrued taxes	2,548	1,212
Dividends payable	3,741	3,781
Total current liabilities	69,469	68,911
Long-Term Debt	153,388	151,309
Deferred Credits and Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Deferred income taxes	58,387	59,502
Postemployment benefit obligation	18,167	18,788
Operating lease liabilities	22,230	21,804
Other noncurrent liabilities	32,804	29,421
Total deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities	131,588	129,515
Stockholders' Equity
Common stock ($1 par value, 14,000,000,000 authorized at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019: issued 7,620,748,598 at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019)	7,621	7,621
Additional paid-in capital	130,046	126,279
Retained earnings	56,045	57,936
Treasury stock (495,425,902 at June 30, 2020 and 366,193,458 at December 31, 2019, at cost)	(17,945)	(13,085)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	129	5,470
Noncontrolling interest	17,557	17,713
Total stockholders' equity	193,453	201,934
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	547,898	551,669
Series A (48,000 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019)
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock ($1 par value, 10,000,000 authorized):	0	0
Series B (20,000 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and 0 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019)
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock ($1 par value, 10,000,000 authorized):	0	0
Series C (70,000 issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and 0 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019)
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock ($1 par value, 10,000,000 authorized):	0	0
Trademarks and Trade Names - Net [Member]
Noncurrent Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	23,757	23,567
Distribution Networks - Net
Noncurrent Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$ 14,704	$ 15,345

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Allowances for doubtful accounts	$ 1,606	$ 1,235
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized	14,000,000,000	14,000,000,000
Common stock, issued	7,620,748,598	7,620,748,598
Treasury stock, held	495,425,902	366,193,458
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	48,000	48,000
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	48,000	48,000
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	20,000	0
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	20,000	0
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	70,000	0
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	70,000	0

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 6,526	$ 8,322
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,507	14,307
Amortization of television and film costs	3,985	5,199
Undistributed earnings from investments in equity affiliates	64	76
Provision for uncollectible accounts	1,199	1,216
Deferred income tax expense	653	1,080
Net (gain) loss on investments, net of impairments	(705)	(905)
Pension and postretirement benefit expense (credit)	(1,495)	(808)
Actuarial (gain) loss on pension and postretirement benefits	0	2,131
Asset impairments and abandonments	2,442	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivable	2,522	3,584
Other current assets, inventories and theatrical film and television production costs	(5,592)	(5,422)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(3,847)	(3,056)
Equipment installment receivables and related sales	226	1,144
Deferred customer contract acquisition and fulfillment costs	322	(614)
Postretirement claims and contributions	(228)	(424)
Other - net	346	(494)
Total adjustments	14,399	17,014
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	20,925	25,336
Investing Activities
Purchase of property and equipment	(9,372)	(10,542)
Interest during construction	(60)	(112)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,174)	(320)
Dispositions	347	3,593
(Purchases) sales and settlements of securities and investments, net	47	396
Advances to and investments in equity affiliates, net	(66)	(314)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(10,278)	(7,299)
Financing Activities
Net change in short-term borrowings with original maturities of three months or less	498	119
Issuance of other short-term borrowings	8,440	3,067
Repayment of other short-term borrowings	(5,975)	(3,148)
Issuance of long-term debt	21,060	10,030
Repayment of long-term debt	(17,284)	(16,124)
Payment of vendor financing	(1,354)	(1,836)
Issuance of preferred stock	3,869	0
Purchase of treasury stock	(5,480)	(240)
Issuance of treasury stock	84	455
Dividends paid	(7,474)	(7,436)
Other	(2,295)	330
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(5,911)	(14,783)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	4,736	3,254
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash beginning of year	12,295	5,400
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash End of Period	$ 17,031	$ 8,654

Consolidated Statement Of Chang

Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]Preferred Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]Common Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Attributable to AT&T, net of tax [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 193,884	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	$ 125,525			$ 58,753	$ (12,059)	$ 4,249	$ 9,795
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		0	0	0	7,621					(339)
Issuance of stock		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0
Issuance of stock (in shares)		0	0	0	0
Issuance of treasury stock						(127)				$ 1,188
Issuance of treasury stock, (in shares)										32
Share-based payments						(289)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock								$ 0
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock										$ (280)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock (in shares)										(9)
Net Income attributable to AT&T	7,809								7,809
Common stock dividends ($0.52, $0.51, $1.04 and $1.02 per share)									(7,489)
Other comprehensive income attributable to AT&T											(960)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	513											513
Interest acquired by noncontrolling owners												10
Distributions												(525)
Translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes	2											2
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	194,081	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	125,109			59,389	$ (11,151)	3,289	9,824
Preferred stock dividends									0
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		0	0	0	7,621					(316)
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019	194,951	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	125,174			59,424	$ (11,452)	4,345	9,839
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019		0	0	0	7,621					(324)
Issuance of stock		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		0
Issuance of stock (in shares)		0	0	0	0
Issuance of treasury stock						(50)				$ 373
Issuance of treasury stock, (in shares)										10
Share-based payments						(15)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock								0
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock										$ (72)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock (in shares)										(2)
Net Income attributable to AT&T	3,713								3,713
Common stock dividends ($0.52, $0.51, $1.04 and $1.02 per share)									(3,748)
Other comprehensive income attributable to AT&T											(1,056)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	261											261
Interest acquired by noncontrolling owners												1
Distributions												(279)
Translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes	2											2
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	194,081	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	125,109			59,389	$ (11,151)	3,289	9,824
Preferred stock dividends									0
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		0	0	0	7,621					(316)
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	201,934	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	126,279			57,936	$ (13,085)	5,470	17,713
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	0	0	7,621					(366)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2020	195,449	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	129,966			58,534	$ (17,957)	(385)	17,670
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		0	0	0	7,621					(496)
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	201,934	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	126,279			57,936	$ (13,085)	5,470	17,713
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		0	0	0	7,621					(366)
Issuance of stock		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		3,869
Issuance of stock (in shares)		0	0	0	0
Issuance of treasury stock						(54)				$ 721
Issuance of treasury stock, (in shares)										19
Share-based payments						(115)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock								67
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock										$ (5,581)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock (in shares)										(148)
Net Income attributable to AT&T	5,891								5,891
Common stock dividends ($0.52, $0.51, $1.04 and $1.02 per share)									(7,421)
Other comprehensive income attributable to AT&T											(5,341)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	635											635
Interest acquired by noncontrolling owners												1
Distributions												(726)
Translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes	(59)											(59)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	193,453	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	130,046			56,045	$ (17,945)	129	17,557
Preferred stock dividends									(68)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		0	0	0	7,621					(495)
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020	195,449	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	129,966			58,534	$ (17,957)	(385)	17,670
Balance at beginning of period (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020		0	0	0	7,621					(496)
Issuance of stock		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0
Issuance of stock (in shares)		0	0	0	0
Issuance of treasury stock						(7)				$ 46
Issuance of treasury stock, (in shares)										1
Share-based payments						87
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock								$ 0
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock										$ (34)
Repurchase and acquisition of common stock (in shares)										0
Net Income attributable to AT&T	1,281								1,281
Common stock dividends ($0.52, $0.51, $1.04 and $1.02 per share)									(3,734)
Other comprehensive income attributable to AT&T											514
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	282											282
Interest acquired by noncontrolling owners												0
Distributions												(387)
Translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes	(8)											(8)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 193,453	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 7,621	$ 130,046			56,045	$ (17,945)	$ 129	$ 17,557
Preferred stock dividends									$ (36)
Balance at end of period (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		0	0	0	7,621					(495)

Consolidated Statement Of Cha_2

Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)
Dividends to stockholders, per share	$ 0.52	$ 0.51	$ 1.04	$ 1.02

Preparation Of Interim Financia

Preparation Of Interim Financial Statements	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies	NOTE 1. PREPARATION OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Basis of Presentation Throughout this document, AT&T Inc. is referred to as “we,” “AT&T” or the “Company.” The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and subsidiaries and affiliates which we control. AT&T is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates operate worldwide in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. You should read this document in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of those for the full year. These consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for the presented interim periods, consisting of normal recurring accruals and other items. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. Investments in subsidiaries and partnerships which we do not control but have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. Earnings from certain investments accounted for using the equity method are included for periods ended within up to one quarter of our period end. We also record our proportionate share of our equity method investees’ other comprehensive income (OCI) items. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions, including potential impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior period amounts have been conformed to the current period’s presentation, including the combination of our prior Xandr segment with the WarnerMedia segment. In the tables throughout this document, percentage increases and decreases that are not considered meaningful are denoted with a dash. Adopted and Pending Accounting Standards and Other Changes Credit Losses As of January 1, 2020 , we adopted, through modified retrospective 293 reduction to “Retained earnings,” $ 395 increase to “allowances for doubtful accounts” applicable to our trade and loan receivables, $ 10 reduction of contract assets, $ 105 reduction of net deferred income tax liability and $ 7 reduction of “Noncontrolling interest” as an opening adjustment. Our adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on our financial statements. Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (ASU 2020-04), which provides optional expedients, and allows for certain exceptions to existing GAAP, for contract modifications triggered by the expected market transition of certain benchmark interest rates to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 applies to contracts, hedging relationships and other arrangements that reference the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) or any other rates ending after December 31, 2022. We are evaluating the impact of our adoption of ASU 2020-04, including optional expedients, to our financial statements. Intangible Assets Driven by significant and adverse economic and political environments in Latin America, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have experienced accelerated subscriber losses and revenue decline in the region, as well as closure of our operations in Venezuela. When combining these business trends and higher weighted-average cost of capital resulting from the increase in country-risk premiums in the region, we concluded that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the Vrio reporting unit, estimated using discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches, is less than its carrying amount. We recorded a $ 2,212 goodwill impairment in the reporting unit, with $ 105 attributable to noncontrolling interest. The impairment is not deductible for tax purposes and resulted in an increase in our effective tax rate. During the first quarter of 2020, we reassessed and changed the estimated economic lives of certain trade names in our Latin America business from indefinite to finite-lived and began amortizing them using the straight-line method over their average remaining economic life of 15 years. Also during the first quarter of 2020, in conjunction with the nationwide launch of AT&T TV and our customers’ continued shift from linear to streaming video services, we reassessed the estimated economic lives and renewal assumptions for our orbital slot licenses. As a result, we have changed the estimated lives of these licenses from indefinite to finite-lived, effective January 1, 2020, and began amortizing our orbital slot licenses using the sum-of-months-digits method over their average remaining economic life of 15 years. 379, or $ 0.04 per diluted share available to common stock during the second quarter and $ 765, or $ 0.08, per diluted share available to common stock for the first six months of 2020.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	NOTE 2. EARNINGS PER SHARE A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, is shown in the table below. Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Numerators Numerator for basic earnings per share: Net Income $ 1,563 $ 3,974 $ 6,526 $ 8,322 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest ( 282) ( 261) ( 635) ( 513) Net Income attributable to AT&T 1,281 3,713 5,891 7,809 Less: Preferred stock dividends ( 52) - ( 84) - Net income attributable to common stock 1,229 3,713 5,807 7,809 Dilutive potential common shares: Share-based payment 5 4 11 10 Numerator for diluted earnings per share $ 1,234 $ 3,717 $ 5,818 $ 7,819 Denominators (000,000) Denominator for basic earnings per share: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 7,145 7,323 7,166 7,318 Dilutive potential common shares: Share-based payment (in shares) 25 30 26 29 Denominator for diluted earnings per share 7,170 7,353 7,192 7,347 Basic earnings per share attributable to Common Stock $ 0.17 $ 0.51 $ 0.81 $ 1.06 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Common Stock $ 0.17 $ 0.51 $ 0.81 $ 1.06 In the first quarter of 2020, we completed an accelerated share repurchase agreement with a third-party financial institution to repurchase AT&T common stock. Under the terms of the agreement, we paid the financial institution $ 4,000 and received 104.8 million shares.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Text Block]	NOTE 3. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Changes in the balances of each component included in accumulated OCI are presented below. All amounts are net of tax and exclude noncontrolling interest. Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ ( 3,056) $ 48 $ ( 37) $ 8,515 $ 5,470 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications ( 1,490) 80 ( 3,026) - ( 4,436) Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI - 1 - 1 17 2 ( 922) 3 ( 905) Net other comprehensive income (loss) ( 1,490) 80 ( 3,009) ( 922) ( 5,341) Balance as of June 30, 2020 $ ( 4,546) $ 128 $ ( 3,046) $ 7,593 $ 129 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ ( 3,084) $ ( 2) $ 818 $ 6,517 $ 4,249 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 159 42 ( 490) - ( 289) Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI - 1 - 1 17 2 ( 688) 3 ( 671) Net other comprehensive income (loss) 159 42 ( 473) ( 688) ( 960) Balance as of June 30, 2019 $ ( 2,925) $ 40 $ 345 $ 5,829 $ 3,289 1 (Gains) losses are included in "Other income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income. 2 (Gains) losses are included in "Interest expense" in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 7). 3 The amortization of prior service credits associated with postretirement benefits are included in "Other income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 6).

Segment Information

Segment Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Information
Segment Information [Text Block]	NOTE 4. SEGMENT INFORMATION Our segments are strategic business units that offer products and services to different customer segments over various technology platforms and/or in different geographies that are managed accordingly. We analyze our segments based on segment operating contribution, which consists of operating income, excluding acquisition-related costs and other significant items (as discussed below), and equity in net income (loss) of affiliates for investments managed within each segment. We have three reportable segments: (1) Communications, (2) WarnerMedia and (3) Latin America. We have recast our segment results for all prior periods to include our prior Xandr segment within our WarnerMedia segment. We also evaluate segment and business unit performance based on EBITDA and/or EBITDA margin, which is defined as operating contribution excluding equity in net income (loss) of affiliates and depreciation and amortization. We believe EBITDA to be a relevant and useful measurement to our investors as it is part of our internal management reporting and planning processes and it is an important metric that management uses to evaluate operating performance. EBITDA does not give effect to cash used for debt service requirements and thus does not reflect available funds for distributions, reinvestment or other discretionary uses. EBITDA margin is EBITDA divided by total revenues. The Communications segment provides wireless and wireline telecom, video and broadband services to consumers located in the U.S. and businesses globally. This segment contains the following business units:  Mobility provides nationwide wireless service and equipment.  Entertainment Group provides video, including over-the-top (OTT) services, broadband and voice communications services primarily to residential customers. This segment also sells advertising on distribution platforms.  Business Wireline provides advanced IP-based services, as well as traditional voice and data services to business customers. The WarnerMedia segment develops, produces and distributes feature films, television, gaming and other content in various physical and digital formats globally. Historical financial results from Xandr, previously a separate reportable segment, have been combined with the WarnerMedia segment within Eliminations and other. This segment contains the following business units:  Turner primarily operates multichannel basic television networks and digital properties. Turner also sells advertising on its networks and digital properties.  Home Box Office consists of premium pay television and OTT and streaming services domestically and premium pay, basic tier television and OTT services internationally, as well as content licensing and home entertainment.  Warner Bros. primarily consists of the production, distribution and licensing of television programming and feature films, the distribution of home entertainment products and the production and distribution of games. The Latin America segment provides entertainment and wireless services outside of the U.S. This segment contains the following business units:  Vrio provides video services primarily to residential customers using satellite technology in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Mexico provides wireless service and equipment to customers in Mexico. Corporate and Other reconciles our segment results to consolidated operating income and income before income taxes, and includes:  Corporate , which consists of: (1) businesses no longer integral to our operations or which we no longer actively market, (2) corporate support functions, (3) impacts of corporate-wide decisions for which the individual operating segments are not being evaluated, and (4) the reclassification of the amortization of prior service credits, which we continue to report with segment operating expenses, to consolidated “Other income (expense) – net.”  Acquisition-related items which consists of items associated with the merger and integration of acquired businesses, including amortization of intangible assets.  Certain significant items includes (1) employee separation charges associated with voluntary and/or strategic offers, (2) losses resulting from abandonment of network assets and impairments and (3) other items for which the segments are not being evaluated.  Eliminations and consolidations , which (1) removes transactions involving dealings between our segments, including content licensing between WarnerMedia and Communications, and (2) includes adjustments for our reporting of the advertising business. “Interest expense” and “Other income (expense) – net,” are managed only on a total company basis and are, accordingly, reflected only in consolidated results. For the three months ended June 30, 2020 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 17,149 $ 9,332 $ 7,817 $ 2,012 $ 5,805 $ - $ 5,805 Entertainment Group 10,069 7,730 2,339 1,309 1,030 - 1,030 Business Wireline 6,374 3,779 2,595 1,318 1,277 - 1,277 Total Communications 33,592 20,841 12,751 4,639 8,112 - 8,112 WarnerMedia Turner 2,988 1,347 1,641 69 1,572 - 1,572 Home Box Office 1,627 1,489 138 25 113 ( 5) 108 Warner Bros. 3,256 2,583 673 40 633 ( 19) 614 Eliminations and other ( 1,057) ( 685) ( 372) 33 ( 405) 28 ( 377) Total WarnerMedia 6,814 4,734 2,080 167 1,913 4 1,917 Latin America Vrio 752 661 91 127 ( 36) 8 ( 28) Mexico 480 538 ( 58) 115 ( 173) - ( 173) Total Latin America 1,232 1,199 33 242 ( 209) 8 ( 201) Segment Total 41,638 26,774 14,864 5,048 9,816 $ 12 $ 9,828 Corporate and Other Corporate 437 933 ( 496) 93 ( 589) Acquisition-related items - 211 ( 211) 2,145 ( 2,356) Certain significant items - 3,084 ( 3,084) - ( 3,084) Eliminations and consolidations ( 1,125) ( 869) ( 256) ( 1) ( 255) AT&T Inc. $ 40,950 $ 30,133 $ 10,817 $ 7,285 $ 3,532 For the three months ended June 30, 2019 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 17,292 $ 9,522 $ 7,770 $ 2,003 $ 5,767 $ - $ 5,767 Entertainment Group 11,368 8,515 2,853 1,339 1,514 - 1,514 Business Wireline 6,607 3,975 2,632 1,242 1,390 - 1,390 Total Communications 35,267 22,012 13,255 4,584 8,671 - 8,671 WarnerMedia Turner 3,410 2,217 1,193 39 1,154 11 1,165 Home Box Office 1,716 1,131 585 12 573 15 588 Warner Bros. 3,389 2,918 471 31 440 - 440 Eliminations and other 320 170 150 22 128 29 157 Total WarnerMedia 8,835 6,436 2,399 104 2,295 55 2,350 Latin America Vrio 1,032 881 151 165 ( 14) 12 ( 2) Mexico 725 813 ( 88) 119 ( 207) - ( 207) Total Latin America 1,757 1,694 63 284 ( 221) 12 ( 209) Segment Total 45,859 30,142 15,717 4,972 10,745 $ 67 $ 10,812 Corporate and Other Corporate 450 765 ( 315) 170 ( 485) Acquisition-related items ( 30) 316 ( 346) 1,960 ( 2,306) Certain significant items - 94 ( 94) - ( 94) Eliminations and consolidations ( 1,322) ( 961) ( 361) ( 1) ( 360) AT&T Inc. $ 44,957 $ 30,356 $ 14,601 $ 7,101 $ 7,500 For the six months ended June 30, 2020 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 34,551 $ 18,901 $ 15,650 $ 4,057 $ 11,593 $ - $ 11,593 Entertainment Group 20,584 15,621 4,963 2,598 2,365 - 2,365 Business Wireline 12,706 7,730 4,976 2,619 2,357 - 2,357 Total Communications 67,841 42,252 25,589 9,274 16,315 - 16,315 WarnerMedia Turner 6,150 3,057 3,093 138 2,955 6 2,961 Home Box Office 3,124 2,542 582 46 536 15 551 Warner Bros. 6,496 5,533 963 81 882 ( 27) 855 Eliminations and other ( 1,108) ( 711) ( 397) 65 ( 462) 25 ( 437) Total WarnerMedia 14,662 10,421 4,241 330 3,911 19 3,930 Latin America Vrio 1,639 1,444 195 274 ( 79) 12 ( 67) Mexico 1,183 1,252 ( 69) 249 ( 318) - ( 318) Total Latin America 2,822 2,696 126 523 ( 397) 12 ( 385) Segment Total 85,325 55,369 29,956 10,127 19,829 $ 31 $ 19,860 Corporate and Other Corporate 825 1,807 ( 982) 180 ( 1,162) Acquisition-related items - 393 ( 393) 4,201 ( 4,594) Certain significant items - 2,426 ( 2,426) - ( 2,426) Eliminations and consolidations ( 2,421) ( 1,791) ( 630) ( 1) ( 629) AT&T Inc. $ 83,729 $ 58,204 $ 25,525 $ 14,507 $ 11,018 For the six months ended June 30, 2019 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 34,655 $ 19,563 $ 15,092 $ 4,016 $ 11,076 $ - $ 11,076 Entertainment Group 22,696 17,042 5,654 2,662 2,992 - 2,992 Business Wireline 13,085 8,007 5,078 2,464 2,614 - 2,614 Total Communications 70,436 44,612 25,824 9,142 16,682 - 16,682 WarnerMedia Turner 6,853 4,353 2,500 99 2,401 36 2,437 Home Box Office 3,226 2,052 1,174 34 1,140 30 1,170 Warner Bros. 6,907 5,837 1,070 83 987 6 993 Eliminations and other 654 347 307 44 263 50 313 Total WarnerMedia 17,640 12,589 5,051 260 4,791 122 4,913 Latin America Vrio 2,099 1,747 352 334 18 12 30 Mexico 1,376 1,538 ( 162) 250 ( 412) - ( 412) Total Latin America 3,475 3,285 190 584 ( 394) 12 ( 382) Segment Total 91,551 60,486 31,065 9,986 21,079 $ 134 $ 21,213 Corporate and Other Corporate 883 1,426 ( 543) 374 ( 917) Acquisition-related items ( 72) 389 ( 461) 3,948 ( 4,409) Certain significant items - 342 ( 342) - ( 342) Eliminations and consolidations ( 2,578) ( 1,899) ( 679) ( 1) ( 678) AT&T Inc. $ 89,784 $ 60,744 $ 29,040 $ 14,307 $ 14,733 The following table is a reconciliation of Segment Contributions to “Income Before Income Taxes” reported on our consolidated statements of income: Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Communications $ 8,112 $ 8,671 $ 16,315 $ 16,682 WarnerMedia 1,917 2,350 3,930 4,913 Latin America ( 201) ( 209) ( 385) ( 382) Segment Contribution 9,828 10,812 19,860 21,213 Reconciling Items: Corporate and Other ( 589) ( 485) ( 1,162) ( 917) Merger and integration items ( 211) ( 346) ( 393) ( 461) Amortization of intangibles acquired ( 2,145) ( 1,960) ( 4,201) ( 3,948) Impairments ( 2,319) - ( 2,442) - Gain on spectrum transaction 1 - - 900 - Employee separation costs and benefit-related losses ( 765) ( 94) ( 884) ( 342) Segment equity in net income of affiliates ( 12) ( 67) ( 31) ( 134) Eliminations and consolidations ( 255) ( 360) ( 629) ( 678) AT&T Operating Income 3,532 7,500 11,018 14,733 Interest Expense 2,041 2,149 4,059 4,290 Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates ( 10) 40 ( 16) 33 Other income (expense) - net 1,017 ( 318) 1,820 ( 32) Income Before Income Taxes $ 2,498 $ 5,073 $ 8,763 $ 10,444 1 Included as a reduction of "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the consolidated statement of income. The following table presents intersegment revenues by segment: Intersegment Reconciliation Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Intersegment Revenues Communications $ 2 $ 8 $ 4 $ 8 WarnerMedia 774 861 1,591 1,719 Latin America - - - - Total Intersegment Revenues 776 869 1,595 1,727 Consolidations 349 453 826 851 Eliminations and consolidations $ 1,125 $ 1,322 $ 2,421 $ 2,578

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]	NOTE 5. REVENUE RECOGNITION Revenue Categories The following tables set forth reported revenue by category and by business unit: For the three months ended June 30, 2020 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 13,611 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 58 $ - $ 3,480 $ 17,149 Entertainment Group - 2,092 560 6,682 - 294 397 44 10,069 Business Wireline - 3,320 2,067 - - - 782 205 6,374 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 1,804 334 796 54 - 2,988 Home Box Office - - - 1,441 181 - 5 - 1,627 Warner Bros. - - - 16 3,179 1 60 - 3,256 Eliminations and other - - - 71 ( 1,516) 378 10 - ( 1,057) Latin America Vrio - - - 752 - - - - 752 Mexico 345 - - - - - - 135 480 Corporate and Other 178 10 152 - - - 62 35 437 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 765) ( 294) ( 66) - ( 1,125) Total Operating Revenues $ 14,134 $ 5,422 $ 2,779 $ 10,766 $ 1,413 $ 1,233 $ 1,304 $ 3,899 $ 40,950 For the three months ended June 30, 2019 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 13,753 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 71 $ - $ 3,468 $ 17,292 Entertainment Group - 2,109 658 7,636 - 399 563 3 11,368 Business Wireline - 3,208 2,324 - - - 897 178 6,607 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 1,943 111 1,266 90 - 3,410 Home Box Office - - - 1,516 198 - 2 - 1,716 Warner Bros. - - - 23 3,175 10 181 - 3,389 Eliminations and other - - - 54 ( 237) 494 9 - 320 Latin America Vrio - - - 1,032 - - - - 1,032 Mexico 479 - - - - - - 246 725 Corporate and Other 150 14 7 - - - 210 39 420 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 840) ( 399) ( 83) - ( 1,322) Total Operating Revenues $ 14,382 $ 5,331 $ 2,989 $ 12,204 $ 2,407 $ 1,841 $ 1,869 $ 3,934 $ 44,957 For the six months ended June 30, 2020 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 27,503 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 134 $ - $ 6,914 $ 34,551 Entertainment Group - 4,201 1,141 13,664 - 707 816 55 20,584 Business Wireline - 6,595 4,196 - - - 1,535 380 12,706 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 3,853 420 1,753 124 - 6,150 Home Box Office - - - 2,779 338 - 7 - 3,124 Warner Bros. - - - 26 6,239 3 228 - 6,496 Eliminations and other - - - 134 ( 2,162) 887 33 - ( 1,108) Latin America Vrio - - - 1,639 - - - - 1,639 Mexico 812 - - - - - - 371 1,183 Corporate and Other 295 24 286 - - - 145 75 825 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 1,559) ( 707) ( 155) - ( 2,421) Total Operating Revenues $ 28,610 $ 10,820 $ 5,623 $ 22,095 $ 3,276 $ 2,777 $ 2,733 $ 7,795 $ 83,729 For the six months ended June 30, 2019 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 27,315 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 138 $ - $ 7,202 $ 34,655 Entertainment Group - 4,179 1,341 15,360 - 749 1,063 4 22,696 Business Wireline - 6,380 4,721 - - - 1,647 337 13,085 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 3,908 246 2,527 172 - 6,853 Home Box Office - - - 2,850 371 - 5 - 3,226 Warner Bros. - - - 44 6,507 20 336 - 6,907 Eliminations and other - - - 103 ( 389) 928 12 - 654 Latin America Vrio - - - 2,099 - - - - 2,099 Mexico 921 - - - - - - 455 1,376 Corporate and Other 272 27 14 - - - 419 79 811 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 1,677) ( 749) ( 152) - ( 2,578) Total Operating Revenues $ 28,508 $ 10,586 $ 6,076 $ 24,364 $ 5,058 $ 3,613 $ 3,502 $ 8,077 $ 89,784 Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition and Fulfillment Costs Costs to acquire and fulfill customer contracts, including commissions on service activations, for our wireless, business wireline and video entertainment services, are deferred and amortized over the contract period or expected customer relationship life, which typically ranges from three years five years For contracts with an estimated amortization period of less than one year, we expense incremental costs immediately. The following table presents the deferred customer contract acquisition and fulfillment costs included on our consolidated balance sheets: June 30, December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets 2020 2019 Deferred Acquisition Costs Other current assets $ 2,630 $ 2,462 Other Assets 3,117 2,991 Total deferred customer contract acquisition costs $ 5,747 $ 5,453 Deferred Fulfillment Costs Other current assets $ 4,362 $ 4,519 Other Assets 5,980 6,439 Total deferred customer contract fulfillment costs $ 10,342 $ 10,958 The following table presents deferred customer contract acquisition and fulfillment cost amortization included in “Other cost of revenue” for the six months ended: June 30, June 30, Consolidated Statements of Income 2020 2019 Deferred acquisition cost amortization $ 1,278 $ 1,026 Deferred fulfillment cost amortization 2,636 2,381 Contract Assets and Liabilities A contract asset is recorded when revenue is recognized in advance of our right to bill and receive consideration. The contract asset will decrease as services are provided and billed. For example, when installment sales include promotional discounts (e.g., “buy one get one free”) the difference between revenue recognized and consideration received is recorded as a contract asset to be amortized over the contract term. When consideration is received in advance of the delivery of goods or services, a contract liability is recorded for deferred revenue. Reductions in the contract liability will be recorded as we satisfy the performance obligations. The following table presents contract assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets: June 30, December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets 2020 2019 Contract asset $ 2,546 $ 2,472 Contract liability 6,533 6,999 Our beginning of period contract liability recorded as customer contract revenue during 2020 was $ 5,004. Our consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 included approximately $ 1,638 and $ 1,611, respectively, for the current portion of our contract asset in “Other current assets” and $ 5,616 and $ 5,939, respectively, for the current portion of our contract liability in “Advanced billings and customer deposits.” Remaining Performance Obligations Remaining performance obligations represent services we are required to provide to customers under bundled or discounted arrangements, which are satisfied as services are provided over the contract term. In determining the transaction price allocated, we do not include non-recurring charges and estimates for usage, nor do we consider arrangements with an original expected duration of less than one year, which are primarily prepaid wireless, video and residential internet agreements. Remaining performance obligations associated with business contracts reflect recurring charges billed, adjusted to reflect estimates for sales incentives and revenue adjustments. Performance obligations associated with wireless contracts are estimated using a portfolio approach in which we review all relevant promotional activities, calculating the remaining performance obligation using the average service component for the portfolio and the average device price. As of June 30, 2020, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was $ 36,362, of which we expect to recognize approximately 82% by the end of 2021, with the balance recognized thereafter.

Pension And Postretirement Bene

Pension And Postretirement Benefits	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Pension And Postretirement Benefits
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE 6. PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS Many of our employees are covered by one of our noncontributory pension plans. We also provide certain medical, dental, life insurance and death benefits to certain retired employees under various plans and accrue actuarially determined postretirement benefit costs. Our objective in funding these plans, in combination with the standards of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), is to accumulate assets sufficient to provide benefits described in the plans to employees upon their retirement. We do not have significant funding requirements in 2020. We recognize actuarial gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets in our consolidated results as a component of “Other income (expense) – net” at our annual measurement date of December 31, unless earlier remeasurements are required. The following table details pension and postretirement benefit costs included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The service cost component of net periodic pension cost (benefit) is recorded in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income while the remaining components are recorded in “Other income (expense) – net.” Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Pension cost: Service cost – benefits earned during the period $ 258 $ 243 $ 515 $ 483 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 422 508 844 1,057 Expected return on assets ( 890) ( 880) ( 1,779) ( 1,731) Amortization of prior service credit ( 29) ( 24) ( 57) ( 57) Actuarial (gain) loss - 1,699 - 2,131 Net pension (credit) cost $ ( 239) $ 1,546 $ ( 477) $ 1,883 Postretirement cost: Service cost – benefits earned during the period $ 13 $ 18 $ 26 $ 36 Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation 104 186 208 372 Expected return on assets ( 45) ( 56) ( 89) ( 112) Amortization of prior service credit ( 582) ( 426) ( 1,164) ( 852) Net postretirement (credit) cost $ ( 510) $ ( 278) $ ( 1,019) $ ( 556) Combined net pension and postretirement (credit) cost $ ( 749) $ 1,268 $ ( 1,496) $ 1,327 We also provide senior- and middle-management employees with nonqualified, unfunded supplemental retirement and savings plans. Net supplemental pension benefits costs not included in the table above were $ 19 and $ 25 in the second quarter and $ 38 and $ 50 for the first six months of 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements And Dis

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures
Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE 7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DISCLOSURE The Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure framework in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” provides a three-tiered fair value hierarchy based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value. Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant unobservable inputs. The level of an asset or liability within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our valuation techniques maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The valuation methodologies described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of future net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. We believe our valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants. The use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date. There have been no changes in the methodologies used since December 31, 2019. Long-Term Debt and Other Financial Instruments The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt, including current maturities, and other financial instruments, are summarized as follows: June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Carrying Fair Carrying Fair Amount Value Amount Value Notes and debentures 1 $ 164,099 $ 190,284 $ 161,109 $ 182,124 Commercial paper 3,001 3,001 - - Bank borrowings - - 4 4 Investment securities 2 3,632 3,632 3,723 3,723 1 Includes credit agreement borrowings. 2 Excludes investments accounted for under the equity method. The carrying amount of debt with an original maturity of less than one year approximates fair value. The fair value measurements used for notes and debentures are considered Level 2 and are determined using various methods, including quoted prices for identical or similar securities in both active and inactive markets. Following is the fair value leveling for investment securities that are measured at fair value and derivatives as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Derivatives designated as hedging instruments are reflected as “Other assets,” “Other noncurrent liabilities,” “Other current assets” and “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets. June 30, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Equity Securities Domestic equities $ 832 $ - $ - $ 832 International equities 141 - - 141 Fixed income equities 230 - - 230 Available-for-Sale Debt Securities - 1,522 - 1,522 Asset Derivatives Cross-currency swaps - 67 - 67 Foreign exchange contracts - 14 - 14 Liability Derivatives Interest rate swaps - ( 3) - ( 3) Cross-currency swaps - ( 6,767) - ( 6,767) Foreign exchange contracts - ( 10) - ( 10) December 31, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Equity Securities Domestic equities $ 844 $ - $ - $ 844 International equities 183 - - 183 Fixed income equities 229 - - 229 Available-for-Sale Debt Securities - 1,444 - 1,444 Asset Derivatives Interest rate swaps - 2 - 2 Cross-currency swaps - 172 - 172 Interest rate locks - 11 - 11 Foreign exchange contracts - 89 - 89 Liability Derivatives Cross-currency swaps - ( 3,187) - ( 3,187) Interest rate locks - ( 95) - ( 95) Investment Securities Our investment securities include both equity and debt securities that are measured at fair value, as well as equity securities without readily determinable fair values. A substantial portion of the fair values of our investment securities is estimated based on quoted market prices. Investments in equity securities not traded on a national securities exchange are valued at cost, less any impairment, and adjusted for changes resulting from observable, orderly transactions for identical or similar securities. Investments in debt securities not traded on a national securities exchange are valued using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or discounted cash flows. The components comprising total gains and losses in the period on equity securities are as follows: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Total gains (losses) recognized on equity securities $ 161 $ 50 $ ( 42) $ 210 Gains (Losses) recognized on equity securities sold 9 9 ( 24) 27 Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities held at end of period 152 41 ( 18) 183 At June 30, 2020, available-for-sale debt securities totaling $ 1,522 have maturities as follows - less than one year: $ 64; one to three years: $ 175; three to five years: $ 156; five or more years: $ 1,127. Our cash equivalents (money market securities), short-term investments (certificate and time deposits) and nonrefundable customer deposits are recorded at amortized cost, and the respective carrying amounts approximate fair values. Short-term investments and nonrefundable customer deposits are recorded in “Other current assets” and our investment securities are recorded in “Other Assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. Derivative Financial Instruments We enter into derivative transactions to manage certain market risks, primarily interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk. This includes the use of interest rate swaps, interest rate locks, foreign exchange forward contracts and combined interest rate foreign exchange contracts (cross-currency swaps). We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. We record derivatives on our consolidated balance sheets at fair value that is derived from observable market data, including yield curves and foreign exchange rates (all of our derivatives are Level 2). Cash flows associated with derivative instruments are presented in the same category on the consolidated statements of cash flows as the item being hedged. Fair Value Hedging Periodically, we enter into and designate fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps as fair value hedges. The purpose of these swaps is to manage interest rate risk by managing our mix of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt. These swaps involve the receipt of fixed-rate amounts for floating interest rate payments over the life of the swaps without exchange of the underlying principal amount. We also designate some of our foreign exchange contracts as fair value hedges. The purpose of these contracts is to hedge currency risk associated with foreign-currency-denominated operating assets and liabilities. Accrued and realized gains or losses from fair value hedges impact the same category on the consolidated statements of income as the item being hedged. Unrealized gains on fair value hedges are recorded at fair market value as assets, and unrealized losses are recorded at fair market value as liabilities. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges are offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets or liabilities through earnings. In the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, no ineffectiveness was measured on fair value hedges . Cash Flow Hedging We designate our cross-currency swaps as cash flow hedges. We have entered into multiple cross-currency swaps to hedge our exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that are attributable to foreign currency risk generated from the issuance of our foreign-denominated debt. These agreements include initial and final exchanges of principal from fixed foreign currency denominated amounts to fixed U.S. dollar denominated amounts, to be exchanged at a specified rate that is usually determined by the market spot rate upon issuance. They also include an interest rate swap of a fixed or floating foreign currency-denominated interest rate to a fixed U.S. dollar denominated interest rate. We also designate some of our foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges. The purpose of these contracts is to hedge certain film production costs denominated in foreign currencies. Unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as assets, and unrealized losses are recorded at fair value as liabilities. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are reported as a component of accumulated OCI and are reclassified into the consolidated statements of income in the same period the hedged transaction affects earnings. Periodically, we enter into and designate interest rate locks to partially hedge the risk of changes in interest payments attributable to increases in the benchmark interest rate during the period leading up to the probable issuance of fixed-rate debt. We designate our interest rate locks as cash flow hedges. Gains and losses when we settle our interest rate locks are amortized into income over the life of the related debt. Over the next 12 months, we expect to reclassify $ 98 from accumulated OCI to “Interest expense” due to the amortization of net losses on historical interest rate locks. We settled all interest rate locks in May 2020 in conjunction with issuance of fixed rate debt obligations that the interest rate locks were hedging. We paid $ 731 that was largely offset by the return of collateral at the time of settlement. Cash flows from the interest rate lock settlements and return of collateral were reported as Financing Activities in our Statement of Cash Flows, consistent with our accounting policy for these instruments. Net Investment Hedging We have designated € 1,450 million aggregate principal amount of debt as a hedge of the variability of some of the Euro-denominated net investments of our subsidiaries. The gain or loss on the debt that is designated as, and is effective as, an economic hedge of the net investment in a foreign operation is recorded as a currency translation adjustment within accumulated OCI, net on the consolidated balance sheet. Net losses on net investment hedges recognized in accumulated OCI in the second quarter were $ 30 and for the first six months of 2020 were $ 5. Collateral and Credit-Risk Contingency We have entered into agreements with our derivative counterparties establishing collateral thresholds based on respective credit ratings and netting agreements. At June 30, 2020, we had posted collateral of $ 694 (a deposit asset) and held collateral of $ 16 (a receipt liability). Under the agreements, if AT&T’s credit rating had been downgraded one rating level by Fitch Ratings, before the final collateral exchange in June, we would have been required to post additional collateral of $ 76. If AT&T’s credit rating had been downgraded four ratings levels by Fitch Ratings, two levels by S&P, and two levels by Moody’s, we would have been required to post additional collateral of $ 5,487. If DIRECTV Holdings LLC’s credit rating had been downgraded below BBB- by S&P, we would have been required to post additional collateral of $ 321. At December 31, 2019, we had posted collateral of $ 204 (a deposit asset) and held collateral of $ 44 (a receipt liability). We do not offset the fair value of collateral, whether the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) exists, against the fair value of the derivative instruments. Following are the notional amounts of our outstanding derivative positions: June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 Interest rate swaps $ 21 $ 853 Cross-currency swaps 45,606 42,325 Interest rate locks - 3,500 Foreign exchange contracts 298 269 Total $ 45,925 $ 46,947 Following are the related hedged items affecting our financial position and performance: Effect of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, Fair Value Hedging Relationships 2020 2019 2020 2019 Interest rate swaps (Interest expense): Gain (Loss) on interest rate swaps $ ( 14) $ 35 $ ( 4) $ 59 Gain (Loss) on long-term debt 14 ( 35) 4 ( 59) In addition, the net swap settlements that accrued and settled in the quarters ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 were offset against interest expense. The following table presents information for our cash flow hedging relationships: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, Cash Flow Hedging Relationships 2020 2019 2020 2019 Cross-currency swaps: Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI $ 809 $ ( 763) $ ( 3,170) $ ( 595) Foreign exchange contracts: Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI 2 4 ( 11) ( 3) Other income (expense) - net reclassified from accumulated OCI into income ( 3) 7 13 10 Interest rate locks: Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI ( 12) ( 23) ( 648) ( 23) Interest income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income ( 18) ( 16) ( 34) ( 32)

Acquisitions, Dispositions And

Acquisitions, Dispositions And Other Adjustments	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Acquisitions, Dispositions And Other Adjustments
Acquisitions, Dispositions And Other Adjustments [Text Block]	NOTE 8. ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSITIONS AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS Acquisitions HBO Latin America Group (HBO LAG) In May 2020 141, net of cash acquired. At acquisition, we remeasured the fair value of the total business, which exceeded the carrying amount of our equity method investment and resulted in a pre-tax gain of $ 68. We consolidated that business upon close and recorded those assets at fair value, including $ 640 of trade names, $ 271 of distribution networks and $ 343 of goodwill that is reported in the WarnerMedia segment. These estimates are preliminary in nature and subject to adjustments, which will be finalized within one year from the date of acquisition. Spectrum Auctions In June 2020 2,379 of 37/39 GHz spectrum in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction. Prior to the auction, we exchanged the 39 GHz licenses with a book value of approximately $ 300 that were previously acquired through FiberTower Corporation for vouchers to be applied against the winning bids and recorded a $ 900 gain in the first quarter of 2020. These vouchers yielded a value of approximately $ 1,200, which was applied toward our gross bids. In the second quarter of 2020, we made the final cash payment of $ 949, bringing the total cash payment to $ 1,186.

Sale of Equipment Installment R

Sale of Equipment Installment Receivables	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Other Assets [Abstract]
Finance Receivables Disclosure[Text Block]	NOTE 9. SALES OF RECEIVABLES We have agreements with various third-party financial institutions pertaining to the sales of certain types of our accounts receivable. The most significant of these programs are discussed in detail below and generally consist of (1) receivables arising from equipment installment plans, which are sold for cash and a deferred purchase price, and (2) revolving service and trade receivables. Under these programs, we transfer receivables to purchasers in exchange for cash and additional consideration upon settlement of the receivables, where applicable. Under the terms of our agreements for these programs, we continue to bill and collect the payments from our customers on behalf of the financial institutions. The sales of receivables did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of income or to “Total Assets” reported on our consolidated balance sheets. We reflect cash receipts on sold receivables as cash flows from operations in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Cash receipts on the deferred purchase price are classified as cash flows from investing activities. Our equipment installment and revolving receivable programs are discussed in detail below. The following table sets forth a summary of the receivables and accounts being serviced: June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Equipment Equipment Installment Revolving Installment Revolving Gross receivables: $ 3,931 $ 3,745 $ 4,576 $ 3,324 Balance sheet classification Accounts receivable Notes receivable 2,056 - 2,467 - Trade receivables 496 3,547 477 2,809 Other Assets Noncurrent notes and trade receivables 1,379 198 1,632 515 Outstanding portfolio of receivables derecognized from our consolidated balance sheets 8,917 5,300 9,713 4,300 Cash proceeds received, net of remittances 1 6,429 5,300 7,211 4,300 1 Represents amounts to which financial institutions remain entitled, excluding the deferred purchase price. Equipment Installment Receivables Program We offer our customers the option to purchase certain wireless devices in installments over a specified period of time and, in many cases, once certain conditions are met, they may be eligible to trade in the original equipment for a new device and have the remaining unpaid balance paid or settled. We maintain a program under which we transfer a portion of these receivables through our bankruptcy-remote subsidiary in exchange for cash and additional consideration upon settlement of the receivables, referred to as the deferred purchase price. In the event a customer trades in a device prior to the end of the installment contract period, we agree to make a payment to the financial institutions equal to any outstanding remaining installment receivable balance. Accordingly, we record a guarantee obligation for this estimated amount at the time the receivables are transferred. The following table sets forth a summary of equipment installment receivables sold under this program during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Gross receivables sold $ 1,506 $ 2,244 $ 3,873 $ 4,945 Net receivables sold 1 1,449 2,133 3,722 4,679 Cash proceeds received 1,225 1,920 3,175 4,195 Deferred purchase price recorded 232 261 585 570 Guarantee obligation recorded 27 93 71 194 1 Receivables net of allowance, imputed interest and equipment trade-in right guarantees. The deferred purchase price and guarantee obligation are initially recorded at estimated fair value and subsequently adjusted for changes in present value of expected cash flows. The estimation of their fair values is based on remaining installment payments expected to be collected and the expected timing and value of device trade-ins. The estimated value of the device trade-ins considers prices offered to us by independent third parties that contemplate changes in value after the launch of a device model. The fair value measurements used for the deferred purchase price and the guarantee obligation are considered Level 3 under the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure framework (see Note 7). The following table presents the previously transferred equipment installment receivables, which we repurchased in exchange for the associated deferred purchase price during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Fair value of repurchased receivables $ 285 $ 235 $ 573 $ 658 Carrying value of deferred purchase price 281 225 558 632 Gain on repurchases 1 $ 4 $ 10 $ 15 $ 26 1 These gains are included in “Selling, general and administrative” in the consolidated statements of income. At June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our deferred purchase price receivable was $ 2,319 and $ 2,336, respectively, of which $ 1,591 and $ 1,569 are included in “Other current assets” on our consolidated balance sheets, with the remainder in “Other Assets.” The guarantee obligation at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $ 315 and $ 384, respectively, of which $ 213 and $ 148 are included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets, with the remainder in “Other noncurrent liabilities.” Our maximum exposure to loss as a result of selling these equipment installment receivables is limited to the total amount of our deferred purchase price and guarantee obligation. Revolving Receivables Program In 2019, we entered into a one-year revolving agreement to transfer up to $ 4,300 of certain receivables through our bankruptcy-remote subsidiaries to various financial institutions on a recurring basis in exchange for cash equal to the gross receivables transferred. In the first quarter of 2020, we expanded the program limit to $ 5,300. In the second quarter of 2020, we extended the agreement by one year. As customers pay their balances, we transfer additional receivables into the program, resulting in our gross receivables sold exceeding net cash flow impacts (e.g., collect and reinvest). The transferred receivables are fully guaranteed by our bankruptcy-remote subsidiaries, which hold additional receivables in the amount of $ 3,745 that are pledged as collateral under this agreement. The transfers are recorded at fair value of the proceeds received and obligations assumed less derecognized receivables. The obligation is subsequently adjusted for changes in estimated expected credit losses and interest rates. Our maximum exposure to loss related to these receivables transferred is limited to the amount outstanding. The fair value measurement used for the obligation is considered Level 3 under the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure framework (see Note 7). The following table sets forth a summary of receivables sold: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Gross receivables sold/cash proceeds received 1 $ 3,805 $ 4,452 $ 8,027 $ 5,852 Collections reinvested under revolving agreement 3,805 2,127 7,027 2,127 Net cash proceeds received (remitted) $ - $ 2,325 $ 1,000 $ 3,725 Net receivables sold 2 $ 3,819 $ 4,134 $ 7,957 $ 5,497 Obligations recorded (reversed) ( 12) 384 114 436 1 Includes initial sale of receivables of $ 0 and $ 2,325 for the three months and $ 1,000 and $ 3,725 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 2 Receivables net of allowance, return and incentive reserves and imputed interest

Leases

Leases	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE 10. LEASES We have operating and finance leases for certain facilities and equipment used in operations. Our leases generally have remaining lease terms of up to 15 Some of our real estate operating leases contain renewal options that may be exercised, and some of our leases include options to terminate the leases within one year. We have recognized a right-of-use asset for both operating and finance leases, and an operating lease liability that represents the present value of our obligation to make payments over the lease term. The present value of the lease payments is calculated using the incremental borrowing rate for operating and finance leases, which was determined using a portfolio approach based on the rate of interest that we would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar term. We use the unsecured borrowing rate and risk-adjust that rate to approximate a collateralized rate in the currency of the lease, which will be updated on a quarterly basis for measurement of new lease liabilities. The components of lease expense were as follows: Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Operating lease cost $ 1,449 $ 1,610 $ 2,826 $ 2,852 Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 73 $ 70 $ 140 $ 136 Interest on lease obligation 36 42 77 84 Total finance lease cost $ 109 $ 112 $ 217 $ 220 Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows: June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 Operating Leases Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 24,692 $ 24,039 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 3,474 $ 3,451 Operating lease obligation 22,230 21,804 Total operating lease obligation $ 25,704 $ 25,255 Finance Leases Property, plant and equipment, at cost $ 3,468 $ 3,534 Accumulated depreciation and amortization ( 1,347) ( 1,296) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 2,121 $ 2,238 Current portion of long-term debt $ 180 $ 162 Long-term debt 1,683 1,872 Total finance lease obligation $ 1,863 $ 2,034 Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term (years) Operating leases 8.5 8.4 Finance leases 10.2 10.7 Weighted-Average Discount Rate Operating leases 4.2 % 4.7 % Finance leases 8.2 % 8.5 % Future minimum maturities of lease obligations are as follows: At June 30, 2020 Operating Finance Leases Leases Remainder of 2020 $ 2,447 $ 190 2021 4,582 309 2022 4,277 291 2023 3,889 262 2024 3,357 242 Thereafter 13,031 1,632 Total lease payments 31,583 2,926 Less imputed interest ( 5,879) ( 1,063) Total $ 25,704 $ 1,863

Preferred Shares

Preferred Shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Stockholders' Equity Note
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE 11. PREFERRED SHARES We have authorized 10 million preferred shares of AT&T stock, each with a par value of $ 1.00 per share. Cumulative perpetual preferred shares consist of the following:  Series A: 48 25,000 5.00  Series B: 20 thousand shares outstanding at June 30, 2020 and zero 100,000 per share liquidation preference, and an initial dividend rate of 2.875%, subject to reset beginning on May 1, 2025.  Series C: 70 thousand shares outstanding at June 30, 2020 and zero 25,000 per share liquidation preference and a dividend rate of 4.75%. So long as the preferred dividends are declared and paid on a timely basis on each series of preferred shares, there are no limitations on our ability to declare a dividend on or repurchase AT&T common shares. The preferred shares are optionally redeemable by AT&T at the liquidation price generally on or after five years from the issuance date, or upon certain other contingent events.

Additional Financial Informatio

Additional Financial Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Additional Financial Information [Abstract]
Additional Financial Information [Text Block]	NOTE 12. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION Cash and Cash Flows We typically maintain our restricted cash balances for purchases and sales of certain investment securities and funding of certain deferred compensation benefit payments: June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 2019 2018 Cash and cash equivalents $ 16,941 $ 8,423 $ 12,130 $ 5,204 Restricted cash in Other current assets 3 15 69 61 Restricted cash in Other Assets 87 216 96 135 Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash $ 17,031 $ 8,654 $ 12,295 $ 5,400 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Six months ended June 30, Cash paid (received) during the period for: 2020 2019 Interest $ 4,202 $ 4,410 Income taxes, net of refunds ( 214) ( 32) Six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 Cash Flows from Operating Activities Cash paid for amounts included in lease obligations Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 2,424 $ 2,464 Supplemental Lease Cash Flow Disclosures Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations 2,895 3,899 Other Noncash Investing and Financing Activities In connection with capital improvements and the acquisition of other productive assets, we negotiate favorable payment terms (referred to as vendor financing), which are reported as financing activities when paid. For the first six months, we recorded vendor financing commitments related to capital investments of approximately $ 1,680 in 2020 and $ 1,265 in 2019. Financing Activities Debt Transactions At June 30, 2020, our total long-term debt obligations totaled $ 168,964. Our debt activity primarily consisted of the following:  Net borrowings of approximately $ 2,960 of debt under our commercial paper program.  In April 2020, entry into and draw on a $ 5,500  Issuance of $ 16,545 of AT&T global notes due 2027 to 2060.  Issuance of € 3,000 million global notes ($ 3,281 at issuance) due 2028 to 2038.  Redemptions of $ 12,689 of AT&T global notes due 2020 to 2047.  Redemptions of $ 1,800 under term loan credit agreements with certain banks.  Redemptions of $ 1,000 annual put reset securities issued by BellSouth. Our long-term debt issuances carried a weighted average interest rate of 3.5%, and our long-term debt redemptions had a weighted average interest rate of 3.4%. Subsequent Events In July 2020 4,264 of AT&T, WarnerMedia and DIRECTV notes due 2022, with an average interest rate of 3.4%. In August 2020 11,000 of global notes due 2028 to 2061, with an average interest rate of 2.7%.

Preparation Of Interim Financ_2

Preparation Of Interim Financial Statements (Policy)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation [Policy Text Block]	All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in the consolidation process. Investments in subsidiaries and partnerships which we do not control but have significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. Earnings from certain investments accounted for using the equity method are included for periods ended within up to one quarter of our period end. We also record our proportionate share of our equity method investees’ other comprehensive income (OCI) items.
Basis of Accounting [Policy Text Block]	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions, including potential impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior period amounts have been conformed to the current period’s presentation, including the combination of our prior Xandr segment with the WarnerMedia segment.
Credit Loss, Financial Instrument [Policy Text Block]	Credit Losses As of January 1, 2020 , we adopted, through modified retrospective 293 reduction to “Retained earnings,” $ 395 increase to “allowances for doubtful accounts” applicable to our trade and loan receivables, $ 10 reduction of contract assets, $ 105 reduction of net deferred income tax liability and $ 7 reduction of “Noncontrolling interest” as an opening adjustment. Our adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
Reference Rate Reform [Policy Text Block]	Reference Rate Reform In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (ASU 2020-04), which provides optional expedients, and allows for certain exceptions to existing GAAP, for contract modifications triggered by the expected market transition of certain benchmark interest rates to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 applies to contracts, hedging relationships and other arrangements that reference the London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) or any other rates ending after December 31, 2022. We are evaluating the impact of our adoption of ASU 2020-04, including optional expedients, to our financial statements.
Spectrum Licenses [Policy Text Block]	During the first quarter of 2020, we reassessed and changed the estimated economic lives of certain trade names in our Latin America business from indefinite to finite-lived and began amortizing them using the straight-line method over their average remaining economic life of 15 years. Also during the first quarter of 2020, in conjunction with the nationwide launch of AT&T TV and our customers’ continued shift from linear to streaming video services, we reassessed the estimated economic lives and renewal assumptions for our orbital slot licenses. As a result, we have changed the estimated lives of these licenses from indefinite to finite-lived, effective January 1, 2020, and began amortizing our orbital slot licenses using the sum-of-months-digits method over their average remaining economic life of 15 years. 379, or $ 0.04 per diluted share available to common stock during the second quarter and $ 765, or $ 0.08, per diluted share available to common stock for the first six months of 2020.

Pension And Postretirement Be_2

Pension And Postretirement Benefits (Policy)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Pension And Postretirement Benefits
Recognition Of Actuarial Gains And Losses	We recognize actuarial gains and losses on pension and postretirement plan assets in our consolidated results as a component of “Other income (expense) – net” at our annual measurement date of December 31, unless earlier remeasurements are required.

Fair Value Measurements And D_2

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Policy)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures
Derivatives, Offsetting Fair Value Amounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]	We do not offset the fair value of collateral, whether the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) exists, against the fair value of the derivative instruments.

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Earnings Per Share
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Numerators Numerator for basic earnings per share: Net Income $ 1,563 $ 3,974 $ 6,526 $ 8,322 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest ( 282) ( 261) ( 635) ( 513) Net Income attributable to AT&T 1,281 3,713 5,891 7,809 Less: Preferred stock dividends ( 52) - ( 84) - Net income attributable to common stock 1,229 3,713 5,807 7,809 Dilutive potential common shares: Share-based payment 5 4 11 10 Numerator for diluted earnings per share $ 1,234 $ 3,717 $ 5,818 $ 7,819 Denominators (000,000) Denominator for basic earnings per share: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 7,145 7,323 7,166 7,318 Dilutive potential common shares: Share-based payment (in shares) 25 30 26 29 Denominator for diluted earnings per share 7,170 7,353 7,192 7,347 Basic earnings per share attributable to Common Stock $ 0.17 $ 0.51 $ 0.81 $ 1.06 Diluted earnings per share attributable to Common Stock $ 0.17 $ 0.51 $ 0.81 $ 1.06

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ ( 3,056) $ 48 $ ( 37) $ 8,515 $ 5,470 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications ( 1,490) 80 ( 3,026) - ( 4,436) Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI - 1 - 1 17 2 ( 922) 3 ( 905) Net other comprehensive income (loss) ( 1,490) 80 ( 3,009) ( 922) ( 5,341) Balance as of June 30, 2020 $ ( 4,546) $ 128 $ ( 3,046) $ 7,593 $ 129 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balance as of December 31, 2018 $ ( 3,084) $ ( 2) $ 818 $ 6,517 $ 4,249 Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 159 42 ( 490) - ( 289) Amounts reclassified from accumulated OCI - 1 - 1 17 2 ( 688) 3 ( 671) Net other comprehensive income (loss) 159 42 ( 473) ( 688) ( 960) Balance as of June 30, 2019 $ ( 2,925) $ 40 $ 345 $ 5,829 $ 3,289 1 (Gains) losses are included in "Other income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income. 2 (Gains) losses are included in "Interest expense" in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 7). 3 The amortization of prior service credits associated with postretirement benefits are included in "Other income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 6).

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Information
Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]	For the three months ended June 30, 2020 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 17,149 $ 9,332 $ 7,817 $ 2,012 $ 5,805 $ - $ 5,805 Entertainment Group 10,069 7,730 2,339 1,309 1,030 - 1,030 Business Wireline 6,374 3,779 2,595 1,318 1,277 - 1,277 Total Communications 33,592 20,841 12,751 4,639 8,112 - 8,112 WarnerMedia Turner 2,988 1,347 1,641 69 1,572 - 1,572 Home Box Office 1,627 1,489 138 25 113 ( 5) 108 Warner Bros. 3,256 2,583 673 40 633 ( 19) 614 Eliminations and other ( 1,057) ( 685) ( 372) 33 ( 405) 28 ( 377) Total WarnerMedia 6,814 4,734 2,080 167 1,913 4 1,917 Latin America Vrio 752 661 91 127 ( 36) 8 ( 28) Mexico 480 538 ( 58) 115 ( 173) - ( 173) Total Latin America 1,232 1,199 33 242 ( 209) 8 ( 201) Segment Total 41,638 26,774 14,864 5,048 9,816 $ 12 $ 9,828 Corporate and Other Corporate 437 933 ( 496) 93 ( 589) Acquisition-related items - 211 ( 211) 2,145 ( 2,356) Certain significant items - 3,084 ( 3,084) - ( 3,084) Eliminations and consolidations ( 1,125) ( 869) ( 256) ( 1) ( 255) AT&T Inc. $ 40,950 $ 30,133 $ 10,817 $ 7,285 $ 3,532 For the three months ended June 30, 2019 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 17,292 $ 9,522 $ 7,770 $ 2,003 $ 5,767 $ - $ 5,767 Entertainment Group 11,368 8,515 2,853 1,339 1,514 - 1,514 Business Wireline 6,607 3,975 2,632 1,242 1,390 - 1,390 Total Communications 35,267 22,012 13,255 4,584 8,671 - 8,671 WarnerMedia Turner 3,410 2,217 1,193 39 1,154 11 1,165 Home Box Office 1,716 1,131 585 12 573 15 588 Warner Bros. 3,389 2,918 471 31 440 - 440 Eliminations and other 320 170 150 22 128 29 157 Total WarnerMedia 8,835 6,436 2,399 104 2,295 55 2,350 Latin America Vrio 1,032 881 151 165 ( 14) 12 ( 2) Mexico 725 813 ( 88) 119 ( 207) - ( 207) Total Latin America 1,757 1,694 63 284 ( 221) 12 ( 209) Segment Total 45,859 30,142 15,717 4,972 10,745 $ 67 $ 10,812 Corporate and Other Corporate 450 765 ( 315) 170 ( 485) Acquisition-related items ( 30) 316 ( 346) 1,960 ( 2,306) Certain significant items - 94 ( 94) - ( 94) Eliminations and consolidations ( 1,322) ( 961) ( 361) ( 1) ( 360) AT&T Inc. $ 44,957 $ 30,356 $ 14,601 $ 7,101 $ 7,500 For the six months ended June 30, 2020 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 34,551 $ 18,901 $ 15,650 $ 4,057 $ 11,593 $ - $ 11,593 Entertainment Group 20,584 15,621 4,963 2,598 2,365 - 2,365 Business Wireline 12,706 7,730 4,976 2,619 2,357 - 2,357 Total Communications 67,841 42,252 25,589 9,274 16,315 - 16,315 WarnerMedia Turner 6,150 3,057 3,093 138 2,955 6 2,961 Home Box Office 3,124 2,542 582 46 536 15 551 Warner Bros. 6,496 5,533 963 81 882 ( 27) 855 Eliminations and other ( 1,108) ( 711) ( 397) 65 ( 462) 25 ( 437) Total WarnerMedia 14,662 10,421 4,241 330 3,911 19 3,930 Latin America Vrio 1,639 1,444 195 274 ( 79) 12 ( 67) Mexico 1,183 1,252 ( 69) 249 ( 318) - ( 318) Total Latin America 2,822 2,696 126 523 ( 397) 12 ( 385) Segment Total 85,325 55,369 29,956 10,127 19,829 $ 31 $ 19,860 Corporate and Other Corporate 825 1,807 ( 982) 180 ( 1,162) Acquisition-related items - 393 ( 393) 4,201 ( 4,594) Certain significant items - 2,426 ( 2,426) - ( 2,426) Eliminations and consolidations ( 2,421) ( 1,791) ( 630) ( 1) ( 629) AT&T Inc. $ 83,729 $ 58,204 $ 25,525 $ 14,507 $ 11,018 For the six months ended June 30, 2019 Revenues Operations and Support Expenses EBITDA Depreciation and Amortization Operating Income (Loss) Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates Segment Contribution Communications Mobility $ 34,655 $ 19,563 $ 15,092 $ 4,016 $ 11,076 $ - $ 11,076 Entertainment Group 22,696 17,042 5,654 2,662 2,992 - 2,992 Business Wireline 13,085 8,007 5,078 2,464 2,614 - 2,614 Total Communications 70,436 44,612 25,824 9,142 16,682 - 16,682 WarnerMedia Turner 6,853 4,353 2,500 99 2,401 36 2,437 Home Box Office 3,226 2,052 1,174 34 1,140 30 1,170 Warner Bros. 6,907 5,837 1,070 83 987 6 993 Eliminations and other 654 347 307 44 263 50 313 Total WarnerMedia 17,640 12,589 5,051 260 4,791 122 4,913 Latin America Vrio 2,099 1,747 352 334 18 12 30 Mexico 1,376 1,538 ( 162) 250 ( 412) - ( 412) Total Latin America 3,475 3,285 190 584 ( 394) 12 ( 382) Segment Total 91,551 60,486 31,065 9,986 21,079 $ 134 $ 21,213 Corporate and Other Corporate 883 1,426 ( 543) 374 ( 917) Acquisition-related items ( 72) 389 ( 461) 3,948 ( 4,409) Certain significant items - 342 ( 342) - ( 342) Eliminations and consolidations ( 2,578) ( 1,899) ( 679) ( 1) ( 678) AT&T Inc. $ 89,784 $ 60,744 $ 29,040 $ 14,307 $ 14,733
Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated Statements of Income [Table Text Block]	Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Communications $ 8,112 $ 8,671 $ 16,315 $ 16,682 WarnerMedia 1,917 2,350 3,930 4,913 Latin America ( 201) ( 209) ( 385) ( 382) Segment Contribution 9,828 10,812 19,860 21,213 Reconciling Items: Corporate and Other ( 589) ( 485) ( 1,162) ( 917) Merger and integration items ( 211) ( 346) ( 393) ( 461) Amortization of intangibles acquired ( 2,145) ( 1,960) ( 4,201) ( 3,948) Impairments ( 2,319) - ( 2,442) - Gain on spectrum transaction 1 - - 900 - Employee separation costs and benefit-related losses ( 765) ( 94) ( 884) ( 342) Segment equity in net income of affiliates ( 12) ( 67) ( 31) ( 134) Eliminations and consolidations ( 255) ( 360) ( 629) ( 678) AT&T Operating Income 3,532 7,500 11,018 14,733 Interest Expense 2,041 2,149 4,059 4,290 Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates ( 10) 40 ( 16) 33 Other income (expense) - net 1,017 ( 318) 1,820 ( 32) Income Before Income Taxes $ 2,498 $ 5,073 $ 8,763 $ 10,444 1 Included as a reduction of "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the consolidated statement of income.
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	Intersegment Reconciliation Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Intersegment Revenues Communications $ 2 $ 8 $ 4 $ 8 WarnerMedia 774 861 1,591 1,719 Latin America - - - - Total Intersegment Revenues 776 869 1,595 1,727 Consolidations 349 453 826 851 Eliminations and consolidations $ 1,125 $ 1,322 $ 2,421 $ 2,578

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

Revenue Recognition (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]	Revenue Categories The following tables set forth reported revenue by category and by business unit: For the three months ended June 30, 2020 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 13,611 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 58 $ - $ 3,480 $ 17,149 Entertainment Group - 2,092 560 6,682 - 294 397 44 10,069 Business Wireline - 3,320 2,067 - - - 782 205 6,374 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 1,804 334 796 54 - 2,988 Home Box Office - - - 1,441 181 - 5 - 1,627 Warner Bros. - - - 16 3,179 1 60 - 3,256 Eliminations and other - - - 71 ( 1,516) 378 10 - ( 1,057) Latin America Vrio - - - 752 - - - - 752 Mexico 345 - - - - - - 135 480 Corporate and Other 178 10 152 - - - 62 35 437 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 765) ( 294) ( 66) - ( 1,125) Total Operating Revenues $ 14,134 $ 5,422 $ 2,779 $ 10,766 $ 1,413 $ 1,233 $ 1,304 $ 3,899 $ 40,950 For the three months ended June 30, 2019 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 13,753 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 71 $ - $ 3,468 $ 17,292 Entertainment Group - 2,109 658 7,636 - 399 563 3 11,368 Business Wireline - 3,208 2,324 - - - 897 178 6,607 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 1,943 111 1,266 90 - 3,410 Home Box Office - - - 1,516 198 - 2 - 1,716 Warner Bros. - - - 23 3,175 10 181 - 3,389 Eliminations and other - - - 54 ( 237) 494 9 - 320 Latin America Vrio - - - 1,032 - - - - 1,032 Mexico 479 - - - - - - 246 725 Corporate and Other 150 14 7 - - - 210 39 420 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 840) ( 399) ( 83) - ( 1,322) Total Operating Revenues $ 14,382 $ 5,331 $ 2,989 $ 12,204 $ 2,407 $ 1,841 $ 1,869 $ 3,934 $ 44,957 For the six months ended June 30, 2020 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 27,503 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 134 $ - $ 6,914 $ 34,551 Entertainment Group - 4,201 1,141 13,664 - 707 816 55 20,584 Business Wireline - 6,595 4,196 - - - 1,535 380 12,706 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 3,853 420 1,753 124 - 6,150 Home Box Office - - - 2,779 338 - 7 - 3,124 Warner Bros. - - - 26 6,239 3 228 - 6,496 Eliminations and other - - - 134 ( 2,162) 887 33 - ( 1,108) Latin America Vrio - - - 1,639 - - - - 1,639 Mexico 812 - - - - - - 371 1,183 Corporate and Other 295 24 286 - - - 145 75 825 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 1,559) ( 707) ( 155) - ( 2,421) Total Operating Revenues $ 28,610 $ 10,820 $ 5,623 $ 22,095 $ 3,276 $ 2,777 $ 2,733 $ 7,795 $ 83,729 For the six months ended June 30, 2019 Service Revenues Wireless Advanced Data Legacy Voice & Data Subscription Content Advertising Other Equipment Total Communications Mobility $ 27,315 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 138 $ - $ 7,202 $ 34,655 Entertainment Group - 4,179 1,341 15,360 - 749 1,063 4 22,696 Business Wireline - 6,380 4,721 - - - 1,647 337 13,085 WarnerMedia Turner - - - 3,908 246 2,527 172 - 6,853 Home Box Office - - - 2,850 371 - 5 - 3,226 Warner Bros. - - - 44 6,507 20 336 - 6,907 Eliminations and other - - - 103 ( 389) 928 12 - 654 Latin America Vrio - - - 2,099 - - - - 2,099 Mexico 921 - - - - - - 455 1,376 Corporate and Other 272 27 14 - - - 419 79 811 Eliminations and consolidations - - - - ( 1,677) ( 749) ( 152) - ( 2,578) Total Operating Revenues $ 28,508 $ 10,586 $ 6,076 $ 24,364 $ 5,058 $ 3,613 $ 3,502 $ 8,077 $ 89,784
Capitalized Contract Cost [Table Text Block]	June 30, December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets 2020 2019 Deferred Acquisition Costs Other current assets $ 2,630 $ 2,462 Other Assets 3,117 2,991 Total deferred customer contract acquisition costs $ 5,747 $ 5,453 Deferred Fulfillment Costs Other current assets $ 4,362 $ 4,519 Other Assets 5,980 6,439 Total deferred customer contract fulfillment costs $ 10,342 $ 10,958 June 30, June 30, Consolidated Statements of Income 2020 2019 Deferred acquisition cost amortization $ 1,278 $ 1,026 Deferred fulfillment cost amortization 2,636 2,381
Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability [Table Text Block]	June 30, December 31, Consolidated Balance Sheets 2020 2019 Contract asset $ 2,546 $ 2,472 Contract liability 6,533 6,999

Pension And Postretirement Be_3

Pension And Postretirement Benefits (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Pension And Postretirement Benefits
Pension and postretirement benefit costs included in operating expenses [Table Text Block]	Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Pension cost: Service cost – benefits earned during the period $ 258 $ 243 $ 515 $ 483 Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 422 508 844 1,057 Expected return on assets ( 890) ( 880) ( 1,779) ( 1,731) Amortization of prior service credit ( 29) ( 24) ( 57) ( 57) Actuarial (gain) loss - 1,699 - 2,131 Net pension (credit) cost $ ( 239) $ 1,546 $ ( 477) $ 1,883 Postretirement cost: Service cost – benefits earned during the period $ 13 $ 18 $ 26 $ 36 Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation 104 186 208 372 Expected return on assets ( 45) ( 56) ( 89) ( 112) Amortization of prior service credit ( 582) ( 426) ( 1,164) ( 852) Net postretirement (credit) cost $ ( 510) $ ( 278) $ ( 1,019) $ ( 556) Combined net pension and postretirement (credit) cost $ ( 749) $ 1,268 $ ( 1,496) $ 1,327

Fair Value Measurements And D_3

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures
Long-term debt and other financial instruments [Table Text Block]	June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Carrying Fair Carrying Fair Amount Value Amount Value Notes and debentures 1 $ 164,099 $ 190,284 $ 161,109 $ 182,124 Commercial paper 3,001 3,001 - - Bank borrowings - - 4 4 Investment securities 2 3,632 3,632 3,723 3,723 1 Includes credit agreement borrowings. 2 Excludes investments accounted for under the equity method.
Fair Value Leveling [Table Text Block]	June 30, 2020 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Equity Securities Domestic equities $ 832 $ - $ - $ 832 International equities 141 - - 141 Fixed income equities 230 - - 230 Available-for-Sale Debt Securities - 1,522 - 1,522 Asset Derivatives Cross-currency swaps - 67 - 67 Foreign exchange contracts - 14 - 14 Liability Derivatives Interest rate swaps - ( 3) - ( 3) Cross-currency swaps - ( 6,767) - ( 6,767) Foreign exchange contracts - ( 10) - ( 10) December 31, 2019 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Equity Securities Domestic equities $ 844 $ - $ - $ 844 International equities 183 - - 183 Fixed income equities 229 - - 229 Available-for-Sale Debt Securities - 1,444 - 1,444 Asset Derivatives Interest rate swaps - 2 - 2 Cross-currency swaps - 172 - 172 Interest rate locks - 11 - 11 Foreign exchange contracts - 89 - 89 Liability Derivatives Cross-currency swaps - ( 3,187) - ( 3,187) Interest rate locks - ( 95) - ( 95)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments [Table Text Block]	Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Total gains (losses) recognized on equity securities $ 161 $ 50 $ ( 42) $ 210 Gains (Losses) recognized on equity securities sold 9 9 ( 24) 27 Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities held at end of period 152 41 ( 18) 183
Notional Amount of Outstanding Derivative Positions [Table Text Block]	June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 Interest rate swaps $ 21 $ 853 Cross-currency swaps 45,606 42,325 Interest rate locks - 3,500 Foreign exchange contracts 298 269 Total $ 45,925 $ 46,947
Effect on Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income [Table Text Block]	Effect of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Income Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, Fair Value Hedging Relationships 2020 2019 2020 2019 Interest rate swaps (Interest expense): Gain (Loss) on interest rate swaps $ ( 14) $ 35 $ ( 4) $ 59 Gain (Loss) on long-term debt 14 ( 35) 4 ( 59) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, Cash Flow Hedging Relationships 2020 2019 2020 2019 Cross-currency swaps: Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI $ 809 $ ( 763) $ ( 3,170) $ ( 595) Foreign exchange contracts: Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI 2 4 ( 11) ( 3) Other income (expense) - net reclassified from accumulated OCI into income ( 3) 7 13 10 Interest rate locks: Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI ( 12) ( 23) ( 648) ( 23) Interest income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income ( 18) ( 16) ( 34) ( 32)

Sale of Equipment Installment_2

Sale of Equipment Installment Receivables (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Finance Receivables [Table Text Block]	June 30, 2020 December 31, 2019 Equipment Equipment Installment Revolving Installment Revolving Gross receivables: $ 3,931 $ 3,745 $ 4,576 $ 3,324 Balance sheet classification Accounts receivable Notes receivable 2,056 - 2,467 - Trade receivables 496 3,547 477 2,809 Other Assets Noncurrent notes and trade receivables 1,379 198 1,632 515 Outstanding portfolio of receivables derecognized from our consolidated balance sheets 8,917 5,300 9,713 4,300 Cash proceeds received, net of remittances 1 6,429 5,300 7,211 4,300 1 Represents amounts to which financial institutions remain entitled, excluding the deferred purchase price. Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Gross receivables sold $ 1,506 $ 2,244 $ 3,873 $ 4,945 Net receivables sold 1 1,449 2,133 3,722 4,679 Cash proceeds received 1,225 1,920 3,175 4,195 Deferred purchase price recorded 232 261 585 570 Guarantee obligation recorded 27 93 71 194 1 Receivables net of allowance, imputed interest and equipment trade-in right guarantees.
Transfer of Financial Assets Accounted for as Sales [Table Text Block]	Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Gross receivables sold/cash proceeds received 1 $ 3,805 $ 4,452 $ 8,027 $ 5,852 Collections reinvested under revolving agreement 3,805 2,127 7,027 2,127 Net cash proceeds received (remitted) $ - $ 2,325 $ 1,000 $ 3,725 Net receivables sold 2 $ 3,819 $ 4,134 $ 7,957 $ 5,497 Obligations recorded (reversed) ( 12) 384 114 436 1 Includes initial sale of receivables of $ 0 and $ 2,325 for the three months and $ 1,000 and $ 3,725 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 2 Receivables net of allowance, return and incentive reserves and imputed interest
Deferred Purchase Price [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Finance Receivables [Table Text Block]	Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Fair value of repurchased receivables $ 285 $ 235 $ 573 $ 658 Carrying value of deferred purchase price 281 225 558 632 Gain on repurchases 1 $ 4 $ 10 $ 15 $ 26 1 These gains are included in “Selling, general and administrative” in the consolidated statements of income.

Leases (Tables)

Leases (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Leases [Abstract]
Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]	Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Operating lease cost $ 1,449 $ 1,610 $ 2,826 $ 2,852 Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 73 $ 70 $ 140 $ 136 Interest on lease obligation 36 42 77 84 Total finance lease cost $ 109 $ 112 $ 217 $ 220 June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 Operating Leases Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 24,692 $ 24,039 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 3,474 $ 3,451 Operating lease obligation 22,230 21,804 Total operating lease obligation $ 25,704 $ 25,255 Finance Leases Property, plant and equipment, at cost $ 3,468 $ 3,534 Accumulated depreciation and amortization ( 1,347) ( 1,296) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 2,121 $ 2,238 Current portion of long-term debt $ 180 $ 162 Long-term debt 1,683 1,872 Total finance lease obligation $ 1,863 $ 2,034 Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term (years) Operating leases 8.5 8.4 Finance leases 10.2 10.7 Weighted-Average Discount Rate Operating leases 4.2 % 4.7 % Finance leases 8.2 % 8.5 %
Schedule Of Maturities Of Operating And Finance Leases Liabilities [Table Text Block]	At June 30, 2020 Operating Finance Leases Leases Remainder of 2020 $ 2,447 $ 190 2021 4,582 309 2022 4,277 291 2023 3,889 262 2024 3,357 242 Thereafter 13,031 1,632 Total lease payments 31,583 2,926 Less imputed interest ( 5,879) ( 1,063) Total $ 25,704 $ 1,863

Additional Financial Informat_2

Additional Financial Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Additional Financial Information [Abstract]
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Table Text Block]	June 30, December 31, 2020 2019 2019 2018 Cash and cash equivalents $ 16,941 $ 8,423 $ 12,130 $ 5,204 Restricted cash in Other current assets 3 15 69 61 Restricted cash in Other Assets 87 216 96 135 Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash $ 17,031 $ 8,654 $ 12,295 $ 5,400 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Six months ended June 30, Cash paid (received) during the period for: 2020 2019 Interest $ 4,202 $ 4,410 Income taxes, net of refunds ( 214) ( 32) Six months ended June 30, 2020 2019 Cash Flows from Operating Activities Cash paid for amounts included in lease obligations Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 2,424 $ 2,464 Supplemental Lease Cash Flow Disclosures Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations 2,895 3,899

Preparation Of Interim Financ_3

Preparation Of Interim Financial Statements (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stock	$ 0.17	$ 0.51	$ 0.81	$ 1.06
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Retained earnings	$ 56,045		$ 56,045			$ 57,936
Contract asset	2,546		2,546			2,472
Deferred income taxes	58,387		58,387			59,502
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	2,319	$ 0	2,442	$ 0
Noncontrolling interest	17,557		$ 17,557			$ 17,713
Communications [Member] | Orbital Slots [Member] | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Change in Accounting Estimate, Description			Also during the first quarter of 2020, in conjunction with the nationwide launch of AT&T TV and our customers’ continued shift from linear to streaming video services, we reassessed the estimated economic lives and renewal assumptions for our orbital slot licenses. As a result, we have changed the estimated lives of these licenses from indefinite to finite-lived, effective January 1, 2020, and began amortizing our orbital slot licenses using the sum-of-months-digits method over their average remaining economic life of 15 years.
Estimated economic useful life			15 years
Amortization expense	$ 379		$ 765
Diluted Earnings Per Share Attributable to Common Stock	$ 0.04		$ 0.08
Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Venezuela
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Disposal Date			Jun. 30, 2020
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			$ 2,212
Noncontrolling interest	$ (105)		$ (105)
Latin America [Member] | Trade Names [Member] | Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Change in Accounting Estimate, Description			During the first quarter of 2020, we reassessed and changed the estimated economic lives of certain trade names in our Latin America business from indefinite to finite-lived and began amortizing them using the straight-line method over their average remaining economic life of 15 years.
Estimated economic useful life			15 years
ASU 2016-13 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
ASU Adoption Date [CCYY-MM-DD format]					Jan. 1, 2020
ASU Early Adoption [true/false]					false
Transition Option Elected [Prospective/Retrospective/Modified Prospective/Modified Retrospective]					Modified Retrospective
Prior Period Not Restated [true/false]			true
Significant effect on the financial statements [Yes/No]			No
Retained earnings					$ (293)
Allowance for doubtful accounts					395
Contract asset					(10)
Deferred income taxes					(105)
Noncontrolling interest					$ (7)

Earnings Per Share (Details)

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share
Net income	$ 1,563	$ 3,974	$ 6,526	$ 8,322
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(282)	(261)	(635)	(513)
Net Income attributable to AT&T	1,281	3,713	5,891	7,809
Less: Preferred stock dividends	(52)	0	(84)	0
Net income attributable to common stock	1,229	3,713	5,807	7,809
Share-based payment	5	4	11	10
Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$ 1,234	$ 3,717	$ 5,818	$ 7,819
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	7,145	7,323	7,166	7,318
Share-based payment (in shares)	25	30	26	29
Denominator for diluted earnings per share	7,170	7,353	7,192	7,347
Basic earnings per share attributable to Common Stock	$ 0.17	$ 0.51	$ 0.81	$ 1.06
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Common Stock	$ 0.17	$ 0.51	$ 0.81	$ 1.06

Earnings Per Share (Narrative)

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Repurchase of common stock		$ 5,480	$ 240
Stock Repurchase Program [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Repurchase of common stock	$ 4,000
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	104,800

Accumulated Other Comprehensi_3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance				$ 5,470	$ 4,249
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of tax				(4,436)	(289)
Amounts reclassifed from accumulated OCI, net of tax				(905)	(671)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		$ 514	$ (1,056)	(5,341)	(960)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance		129	3,289	129	3,289
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance				(3,056)	(3,084)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of tax				(1,490)	159
Amounts reclassifed from accumulated OCI, net of tax	[1]			0	0
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				(1,490)	159
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance		(4,546)	(2,925)	(4,546)	(2,925)
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance				48	(2)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of tax				80	42
Amounts reclassifed from accumulated OCI, net of tax	[1]			0	0
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				80	42
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance		128	40	128	40
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivative Instruments [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance				(37)	818
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of tax				(3,026)	(490)
Amounts reclassifed from accumulated OCI, net of tax	[2]			17	17
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				(3,009)	(473)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance		(3,046)	345	(3,046)	345
Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance				8,515	6,517
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification, net of tax				0	0
Amounts reclassifed from accumulated OCI, net of tax	[3]			(922)	(688)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax				(922)	(688)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance		$ 7,593	$ 5,829	$ 7,593	$ 5,829
[1]	(Gains) losses are included in "Other income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income.
[2]	(Gains) losses are included in "Interest expense" in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 7).
[3]	The amortization of prior service credits associated with postretirement benefits are included in "Other income (expense) - net" in the consolidated statements of income (see Note 6).

Segment Information (Summary Of

Segment Information (Summary Of Operating Revenues And Expenses) (Narrative) (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Segment Information
Number of Reportable Segments	3

Segment Information (Summary _2

Segment Information (Summary Of Operating Revenues And Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 40,950	$ 44,957	$ 83,729	$ 89,784
Operations and Support Expenses	30,133	30,356	58,204	60,744
EBITDA	10,817	14,601	25,525	29,040
Depreciation and Amortization	7,285	7,101	14,507	14,307
Operating Income (Loss)	3,532	7,500	11,018	14,733
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	(10)	40	(16)	33
Segment Contribution	2,498	5,073	8,763	10,444
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	41,638	45,859	85,325	91,551
Operations and Support Expenses	26,774	30,142	55,369	60,486
EBITDA	14,864	15,717	29,956	31,065
Depreciation and Amortization	5,048	4,972	10,127	9,986
Operating Income (Loss)	9,816	10,745	19,829	21,079
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	12	67	31	134
Segment Contribution	9,828	10,812	19,860	21,213
Consolidations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)	(589)	(485)	(1,162)	(917)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,125)	(1,322)	(2,421)	(2,578)
Operations and Support Expenses	(869)	(961)	(1,791)	(1,899)
EBITDA	(256)	(361)	(630)	(679)
Depreciation and Amortization	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Operating Income (Loss)	(255)	(360)	(629)	(678)
Certain Significant Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Operations and Support Expenses	3,084	94	2,426	342
EBITDA	(3,084)	(94)	(2,426)	(342)
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	(3,084)	(94)	(2,426)	(342)
Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	33,592	35,267	67,841	70,436
Operations and Support Expenses	20,841	22,012	42,252	44,612
EBITDA	12,751	13,255	25,589	25,824
Depreciation and Amortization	4,639	4,584	9,274	9,142
Operating Income (Loss)	8,112	8,671	16,315	16,682
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	0	0	0	0
Segment Contribution	8,112	8,671	16,315	16,682
Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	17,149	17,292	34,551	34,655
Operations and Support Expenses	9,332	9,522	18,901	19,563
EBITDA	7,817	7,770	15,650	15,092
Depreciation and Amortization	2,012	2,003	4,057	4,016
Operating Income (Loss)	5,805	5,767	11,593	11,076
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	0	0	0	0
Segment Contribution	5,805	5,767	11,593	11,076
Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	10,069	11,368	20,584	22,696
Operations and Support Expenses	7,730	8,515	15,621	17,042
EBITDA	2,339	2,853	4,963	5,654
Depreciation and Amortization	1,309	1,339	2,598	2,662
Operating Income (Loss)	1,030	1,514	2,365	2,992
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	0	0	0	0
Segment Contribution	1,030	1,514	2,365	2,992
Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6,374	6,607	12,706	13,085
Operations and Support Expenses	3,779	3,975	7,730	8,007
EBITDA	2,595	2,632	4,976	5,078
Depreciation and Amortization	1,318	1,242	2,619	2,464
Operating Income (Loss)	1,277	1,390	2,357	2,614
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	0	0	0	0
Segment Contribution	1,277	1,390	2,357	2,614
WarnerMedia [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	6,814	8,835	14,662	17,640
Operations and Support Expenses	4,734	6,436	10,421	12,589
EBITDA	2,080	2,399	4,241	5,051
Depreciation and Amortization	167	104	330	260
Operating Income (Loss)	1,913	2,295	3,911	4,791
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	4	55	19	122
Segment Contribution	1,917	2,350	3,930	4,913
WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	2,988	3,410	6,150	6,853
Operations and Support Expenses	1,347	2,217	3,057	4,353
EBITDA	1,641	1,193	3,093	2,500
Depreciation and Amortization	69	39	138	99
Operating Income (Loss)	1,572	1,154	2,955	2,401
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	0	11	6	36
Segment Contribution	1,572	1,165	2,961	2,437
WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,627	1,716	3,124	3,226
Operations and Support Expenses	1,489	1,131	2,542	2,052
EBITDA	138	585	582	1,174
Depreciation and Amortization	25	12	46	34
Operating Income (Loss)	113	573	536	1,140
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	(5)	15	15	30
Segment Contribution	108	588	551	1,170
WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	3,256	3,389	6,496	6,907
Operations and Support Expenses	2,583	2,918	5,533	5,837
EBITDA	673	471	963	1,070
Depreciation and Amortization	40	31	81	83
Operating Income (Loss)	633	440	882	987
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	(19)	0	(27)	6
Segment Contribution	614	440	855	993
WarnerMedia [Member] | Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	(1,057)	320	(1,108)	654
Operations and Support Expenses	(685)	170	(711)	347
EBITDA	(372)	150	(397)	307
Depreciation and Amortization	33	22	65	44
Operating Income (Loss)	(405)	128	(462)	263
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	28	29	25	50
Segment Contribution	(377)	157	(437)	313
Latin America [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	1,232	1,757	2,822	3,475
Operations and Support Expenses	1,199	1,694	2,696	3,285
EBITDA	33	63	126	190
Depreciation and Amortization	242	284	523	584
Operating Income (Loss)	(209)	(221)	(397)	(394)
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	8	12	12	12
Segment Contribution	(201)	(209)	(385)	(382)
Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	752	1,032	1,639	2,099
Operations and Support Expenses	661	881	1,444	1,747
EBITDA	91	151	195	352
Depreciation and Amortization	127	165	274	334
Operating Income (Loss)	(36)	(14)	(79)	18
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	8	12	12	12
Segment Contribution	(28)	(2)	(67)	30
Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	480	725	1,183	1,376
Operations and Support Expenses	538	813	1,252	1,538
EBITDA	(58)	(88)	(69)	(162)
Depreciation and Amortization	115	119	249	250
Operating Income (Loss)	(173)	(207)	(318)	(412)
Equity in Net Income (Loss) of Affiliates	0	0	0	0
Segment Contribution	(173)	(207)	(318)	(412)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	437	420	825	811
Corporate [Member] | Consolidations [Member] | Acquisition-related items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	(30)	0	(72)
Operations and Support Expenses	211	316	393	389
EBITDA	(211)	(346)	(393)	(461)
Depreciation and Amortization	2,145	1,960	4,201	3,948
Operating Income (Loss)	(2,356)	(2,306)	(4,594)	(4,409)
Corporate [Member] | Certain Significant Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	437	450	825	883
Operations and Support Expenses	933	765	1,807	1,426
EBITDA	(496)	(315)	(982)	(543)
Depreciation and Amortization	93	170	180	374
Operating Income (Loss)	$ (589)	$ (485)	$ (1,162)	$ (917)

Segment Information (Reconcilia

Segment Information (Reconciliation Of Operating Income Loss to Consolidated Statement Of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		$ 3,532	$ 7,500	$ 11,018	$ 14,733
Interest expense		2,041	2,149	4,059	4,290
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates		(10)	40	(16)	33
Other income (expense) - net		1,017	(318)	1,820	(32)
Income Before Income Taxes		2,498	5,073	8,763	10,444
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		9,816	10,745	19,829	21,079
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates		12	67	31	134
Income Before Income Taxes		9,828	10,812	19,860	21,213
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		8,112	8,671	16,315	16,682
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates		0	0	0	0
Income Before Income Taxes		8,112	8,671	16,315	16,682
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		1,913	2,295	3,911	4,791
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates		4	55	19	122
Income Before Income Taxes		1,917	2,350	3,930	4,913
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(209)	(221)	(397)	(394)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates		8	12	12	12
Income Before Income Taxes		(201)	(209)	(385)	(382)
Certain Significant Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(3,084)	(94)	(2,426)	(342)
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(589)	(485)	(1,162)	(917)
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Merger and intergration items [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(211)	(346)	(393)	(461)
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Amortization of intangibles acquired [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(2,145)	(1,960)	(4,201)	(3,948)
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Impairments [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(2,319)	0	(2,442)	0
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Gain on spectrum transactions [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income	[1]	0	0	900	0
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Employee separate costs and benefit-related losses [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(765)	(94)	(884)	(342)
Certain Significant Items [Member] | Segment equity in net (income) loss of affiliates
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(12)	(67)	(31)	(134)
Consolidations [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		(589)	(485)	(1,162)	(917)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]
Segment Reporting Reconciling Item For Operating Income (Loss) From Segment To Consolidated Statements Of Income [Line Items]
AT&T Operating Income		$ (255)	$ (360)	$ (629)	$ (678)
[1]	Included as a reduction of "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the consolidated statement of income.

Segment Information (Intersegme

Segment Information (Intersegment Details) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ (40,950)	$ (44,957)	$ (83,729)	$ (89,784)
Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(41,638)	(45,859)	(85,325)	(91,551)
Total Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	776	869	1,595	1,727
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	1,125	1,322	2,421	2,578
Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(33,592)	(35,267)	(67,841)	(70,436)
Communications [Member] | Total Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	2	8	4	8
WarnerMedia [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(6,814)	(8,835)	(14,662)	(17,640)
WarnerMedia [Member] | Total Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	774	861	1,591	1,719
Latin America [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(1,232)	(1,757)	(2,822)	(3,475)
Latin America [Member] | Total Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Consolidations [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	(437)	(420)	(825)	(811)
Consolidations [Member] | Total Intersegment Revenues [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 349	$ 453	$ 826	$ 851

Revenue Recognition (Narrative)

Revenue Recognition (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability [Abstract]
Beginning of period contract liability recorded as customer contract revenue during period	$ 5,004
Contract asset balance - current portion (in millions)	1,638	$ 1,611
Contract liability balance - current portion (in millions)	5,616	$ 5,939
Revenue, Performance Obligation [Abstract]
Aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations (in millions)	$ 36,362
Aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations (percentage)	82.00%
Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition Costs [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization Method	For contracts with an estimated amortization period of less than one year, we expense incremental costs immediately.
Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition Costs [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization Period	3 years
Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition Costs [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization Period	5 years
Deferred Customer Contract Fulfillment Cost [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization Method	For contracts with an estimated amortization period of less than one year, we expense incremental costs immediately.
Deferred Customer Contract Fulfillment Cost [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization Period	3 years
Deferred Customer Contract Fulfillment Cost [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost [Line Items]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization Period	5 years

Revenue Recognition (Revenue Ca

Revenue Recognition (Revenue Categories) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 40,950	$ 44,957	$ 83,729	$ 89,784
Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	14,134	14,382	28,610	28,508
Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5,422	5,331	10,820	10,586
Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,779	2,989	5,623	6,076
Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10,766	12,204	22,095	24,364
Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,413	2,407	3,276	5,058
Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,233	1,841	2,777	3,613
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,304	1,869	2,733	3,502
Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,899	3,934	7,795	8,077
Corporate and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	437	420	825	811
Corporate and Other [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	178	150	295	272
Corporate and Other [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10	14	24	27
Corporate and Other [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	152	7	286	14
Corporate and Other [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	62	210	145	419
Corporate and Other [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	35	39	75	79
Operating Segments [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	41,638	45,859	85,325	91,551
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	33,592	35,267	67,841	70,436
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	17,149	17,292	34,551	34,655
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	13,611	13,753	27,503	27,315
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	58	71	134	138
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,480	3,468	6,914	7,202
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10,069	11,368	20,584	22,696
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,092	2,109	4,201	4,179
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	560	658	1,141	1,341
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	6,682	7,636	13,664	15,360
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	294	399	707	749
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	397	563	816	1,063
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	44	3	55	4
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	6,374	6,607	12,706	13,085
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,320	3,208	6,595	6,380
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,067	2,324	4,196	4,721
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	782	897	1,535	1,647
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	205	178	380	337
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	6,814	8,835	14,662	17,640
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	2,988	3,410	6,150	6,853
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,804	1,943	3,853	3,908
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	334	111	420	246
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	796	1,266	1,753	2,527
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	54	90	124	172
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,627	1,716	3,124	3,226
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,441	1,516	2,779	2,850
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	181	198	338	371
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	5	2	7	5
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,256	3,389	6,496	6,907
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	16	23	26	44
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	3,179	3,175	6,239	6,507
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1	10	3	20
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	60	181	228	336
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(1,057)	320	(1,108)	654
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	71	54	134	103
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(1,516)	(237)	(2,162)	(389)
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	378	494	887	928
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10	9	33	12
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	1,232	1,757	2,822	3,475
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	752	1,032	1,639	2,099
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	752	1,032	1,639	2,099
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	480	725	1,183	1,376
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	345	479	812	921
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	135	246	371	455
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(1,125)	(1,322)	(2,421)	(2,578)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Wireless service
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Advanced Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Subscription
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	0	0	0	0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Content
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(765)	(840)	(1,559)	(1,677)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Advertising
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(294)	(399)	(707)	(749)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(66)	(83)	(155)	(152)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Equipment
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Revenue Recognition (Deferred C

Revenue Recognition (Deferred Contract Acquisition and Fulfillment Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition Costs [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net [Abstract]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net (in millions)	$ 5,747		$ 5,453
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization (in millions)	1,278	$ 1,026
Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition Costs [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net [Abstract]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net (in millions)	2,630		2,462
Deferred Customer Contract Acquisition Costs [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net [Abstract]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net (in millions)	3,117		2,991
Deferred Customer Contract Fulfillment Cost [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net [Abstract]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net (in millions)	10,342		10,958
Capitalized Contract Cost, Amortization (in millions)	2,636	$ 2,381
Deferred Customer Contract Fulfillment Cost [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net [Abstract]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net (in millions)	4,362		4,519
Deferred Customer Contract Fulfillment Cost [Member] | Other Assets [Member]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net [Abstract]
Capitalized Contract Cost, Net (in millions)	$ 5,980		$ 6,439

Revenue Recognition (Contract A

Revenue Recognition (Contract Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability [Abstract]
Contract asset	$ 2,546	$ 2,472
Contract liability	$ 6,533	$ 6,999

Pension And Postretirement Be_4

Pension And Postretirement Benefits (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net supplemental retirement pension benefits costs	$ 19	$ 25	$ 38	$ 50

Pension And Postretirement Be_5

Pension And Postretirement Benefits (Pension And Postretirement Benefit Costs Included In Operating Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Actuarial (gain) loss			$ 0	$ 2,131
Qualified Plan [Member] | Funded Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Net (credit) cost	$ (749)	$ 1,268	(1,496)	1,327
Pension Benefit [Member] | Qualified Plan [Member] | Funded Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	258	243	515	483
Interest cost on benefit obligation	422	508	844	1,057
Expected return on assets	(890)	(880)	(1,779)	(1,731)
Amortization of prior service credit	(29)	(24)	(57)	(57)
Actuarial (gain) loss	0	1,699	0	2,131
Net (credit) cost	(239)	1,546	(477)	1,883
Postretirement Benefit [Member] | Qualified Plan [Member] | Funded Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	13	18	26	36
Interest cost on benefit obligation	104	186	208	372
Expected return on assets	(45)	(56)	(89)	(112)
Amortization of prior service credit	(582)	(426)	(1,164)	(852)
Net (credit) cost	$ (510)	$ (278)	$ (1,019)	$ (556)

Fair Value Measurements And D_4

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Collateral received from counterparty				$ 16	$ 44
Collateral submitted to counterparty				694	204
Collateral contingently payable to the counterparty					76
Available-for-sale Securities Debt Securities				1,522	$ 1,444
Fixed income investments - maturities less than 1 year				64
Fixed income investments - maturities within 1 to 3 years				175
Fixed income investments - maturities within 3 to 5 years				156
Fixed income investments - maturities for 5 or more years				1,127
Anticipated reclassification of holding losses during the next 12 months - cash flow hedges				98
Net gains (losses) on net investment hedges recognized in accumulated OCI	$ (30)	$ (5)
Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Payments for Hedge, Financing Activities	$ 731
Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member]
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Collateral contingently payable to the counterparty				5,487
Net Investment Hedge [Member]
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount | €			€ 1,450
DIRECTV [Member]
Fair Value Disclosures [Line Items]
Collateral contingently payable to the counterparty				$ 321

Fair Value Measurements And D_5

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Long-Term Debt And Other Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Carrying Amount [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Notes and debentures	[1]	$ 164,099	$ 161,109
Commercial paper		3,001	0
Bank borrowings		0	4
Investment securities	[2]	3,632	3,723
Fair Value [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Commercial paper		3,001	0
Bank borrowings		0	4
Investment securities	[2]	3,632	3,723
Fair Value [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Notes and debentures	[1]	$ 190,284	$ 182,124
[1]	Includes credit agreement borrowings.
[2]	Excludes investments accounted for under the equity method.

Fair Value Measurements And D_6

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Fair Value Leveling) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities Debt Securities	$ 1,522	$ 1,444
Securities Investment [Member] | United States [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	832	844
Securities Investment [Member] | Non-US [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	141	183
Fixed Income Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	230	229
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)		2
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	(3)
Cross-Currency Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	67	172
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	(6,767)	(3,187)
Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)		(95)
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	14	89
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	(10)
Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities Debt Securities	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Securities Investment [Member] | United States [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	832	844
Level 1 [Member] | Securities Investment [Member] | Non-US [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	141	183
Level 1 [Member] | Fixed Income Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	230	229
Level 1 [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)		0
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	0
Level 1 [Member] | Cross-Currency Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	0	0
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)		0
Level 1 [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	0	0
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	0
Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities Debt Securities	1,522	1,444
Level 2 [Member] | Securities Investment [Member] | United States [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	0	0
Level 2 [Member] | Securities Investment [Member] | Non-US [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	0	0
Level 2 [Member] | Fixed Income Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	0	0
Level 2 [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)		2
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	(3)
Level 2 [Member] | Cross-Currency Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	67	172
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	(6,767)	(3,187)
Level 2 [Member] | Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)		(95)
Level 2 [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	14	89
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	(10)
Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities Debt Securities	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Securities Investment [Member] | United States [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Securities Investment [Member] | Non-US [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Fixed Income Bonds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Equity Securities (at fair value)	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)		0
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	0
Level 3 [Member] | Cross-Currency Swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	0	0
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)		0
Level 3 [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Asset Derivatives (at fair value)	0	$ 0
Liability Derivatives (at fair value)	$ 0

Fair Value Measurement and Disc

Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure (Gain and Losses on Equity Securities) (Details) - Equity Securities [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Total gains (losses) recognized on equity securities	$ 161	$ 50	$ (42)	$ 210
Gains (Losses) recognized on equity securities sold	9	9	(24)	27
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities held at end of period	$ 152	$ 41	$ (18)	$ 183

Fair Value Measurements And D_7

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Notional Amount Of Our Outstanding Derivative Positions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Outstanding Derivative Positions	$ 45,925	$ 46,947
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Outstanding Derivative Positions	21	853
Cross-Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Outstanding Derivative Positions	45,606	42,325
Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Outstanding Derivative Positions	0	3,500
Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Outstanding Derivative Positions	$ 298	$ 269

Fair Value Measurements And D_8

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosure (Effect Of Derivatives On The Consolidated Statements Of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Fair Value Hedging Relationships [Member] | Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on interest rate swaps	$ (14)	$ 35	$ (4)	$ 59
Gain (Loss) on long-term debt	14	(35)	4	(59)
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member] | Cross-Currency Swaps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI	809	(763)	(3,170)	(595)
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member] | Interest Rate Locks [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI	(12)	(23)	(648)	(23)
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member] | Interest Rate Locks [Member] | Interest expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Interest income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income	(18)	(16)	(34)	(32)
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) recognized in accumulated OCI	2	4	(11)	(3)
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Other income expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Interest income (expense) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income	$ (3)	$ 7	$ 13	$ 10

Acquisitions, Dispositions An_2

Acquisitions, Dispositions And Other Adjustments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	May 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				$ 1,174	$ 320
Acquisition of business - Goodwill	$ 143,651		$ 143,651	143,651		$ 146,241
FCC Licenses [Member]
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Acquisition of business - acquisition date	Jun. 30, 2020
Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets				2,379
37 GHz Licenses [Member]
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets			949	1,186
FiberTower Corporation [Member] | FCC Licenses [Member]
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Value of consideration received in a noncash transaction				1,200
FiberTower Corporation [Member] | 39 GHz Licenses [Member]
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets - value	$ 300		$ 300	300
Gain (Loss) on disposition of intangible asset				$ 900
WarnerMedia [Member] | HBO LAG [Member]
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Acquisition of business - acquisition date		May 31, 2020
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		$ 141
Acquisition of business, remeasurement gain		68
Acquisition of business - Goodwill		343
Acquisition of intangible assets, trade names		640
WarnerMedia [Member] | HBO LAG [Member] | Distribution Networks - Net
Acquisition and Dispositions [Line Items]
Acquisition of other intangible assets		$ 271

Sale Of Equipment Installment_3

Sale Of Equipment Installment Receivable (Equipment Installment and AT&T Revolving Programs) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities, Current	$ 41,881			$ 41,881		$ 45,956
Guarantee Obligations [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities, Current	213			213		148
Guarantee Obligation	315			315		384
Finance Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Supplemental Deferred Purchase Price	232		$ 261	585	$ 570
Other Assets [Member] | Deferred Purchase Price [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Other Assets	2,319			2,319		2,336
Other Current Assets [Member] | Deferred Purchase Price [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Other Assets	1,591			1,591		1,569
Revolving [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Agreement Amount With Purchaser To Transfer Financial Assets Accounted For As Sales		$ 5,300				$ 4,300
Receivables pledged as collateral	$ 3,745			$ 3,745

Sale Of Equipment Installment_4

Sale Of Equipment Installment Receivables (Equipment Installment and AT&T Revolving Programs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Finance Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross receivables:		$ 3,931	$ 4,576
Outstanding portfolio of receivables derecognized from our consolidated balance sheets		8,917	9,713
Cash proceeds received, net of remittances	[1]	6,429	7,211
Finance Receivables [Member] | Notes Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		2,056	2,467
Finance Receivables [Member] | Trade receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		496	477
Finance Receivables [Member] | Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross receivables:		1,379	1,632
Trade receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross receivables:		3,745	3,324
Outstanding portfolio of receivables derecognized from our consolidated balance sheets		5,300	4,300
Cash proceeds received, net of remittances	[1]	5,300	4,300
Trade receivables [Member] | Notes Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		0	0
Trade receivables [Member] | Trade receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Accounts receivable		3,547	2,809
Trade receivables [Member] | Other Noncurrent Assets [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross receivables:		$ 198	$ 515
[1]	Represents amounts to which financial institutions remain entitled, excluding the deferred purchase price.

Sale Of Equipment Installment_5

Sale Of Equipment Installment Receivables (Finance Receivables) (Details) - Finance Receivables [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Gross receivables sold		$ 1,506	$ 2,244	$ 3,873	$ 4,945
Net receivables sold	[1]	1,449	2,133	3,722	4,679
Cash proceeds received		1,225	1,920	3,175	4,195
Deferred purchase price recorded		232	261	585	570
Guarantee obligation recorded		$ 27	$ 93	$ 71	$ 194
[1]	Receivables net of allowance, imputed interest and equipment trade-in right guarantees.

Sale Of Equipment Installment_6

Sale Of Equipment Installment Receivables (Finance Receivables Repurchased) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Fair value of repurchased receivables		$ 285	$ 235	$ 573	$ 658
Carrying value of deferred purchase price		281	225	558	632
Gain (Loss) on repurchases	[1]	$ 4	$ 10	$ 15	$ 26
[1]	These gains are included in “Selling, general and administrative” in the consolidated statements of income.

Sale of Equipment Installment_7

Sale of Equipment Installment Receivables (Summary of Receivables Sold) (Details) - WarnerMedia [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Transfer Of Financial Assets Accounted For As Sales [Line Items]
Gross receivables sold/cash proceeds received	[1]	$ 3,805	$ 4,452	$ 8,027	$ 5,852
Collections reinvested under revolving agreement		3,805	2,127	7,027	2,127
Net cash proceeds received (remitted)		0	2,325	1,000	3,725
Net receivables sold	[2]	3,819	4,134	7,957	5,497
Guarantee obligation recorded		(12)	384	114	436
Initial sale of receivables		$ 0	$ 2,325	$ 1,000	$ 3,725
[1]	Includes initial sale of receivables of $0 and $2,325 for the three months and $1,000 and $3,725 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
[2]	Receivables net of allowance, return and incentive reserves and imputed interest

Leases (Narrative) (Details)

Leases (Narrative) (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020
Leases [Line Items]
Operating lease, option to terminate leases	Some of our operating leases include options to terminate within one year.
Finance Lease, option to terminate leases	Some of our finance leases include options to terminate within one year.
Maximum [Member]
Leases [Line Items]
Operating Lease, remaining term of contract	15 years
Finance Lease, remaining term of contract	15 years

Leases (Components of Lease Exp

Leases (Components of Lease Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Operating Lease [Abstract]
Operating Lease Cost	$ 1,449	$ 1,610	$ 2,826	$ 2,852
Finance Lease [Abstract]
Amortization of right-of-use assets	73	70	140	136
Interest on lease obligation	36	42	77	84
Finance Lease [Member]
Finance Lease [Abstract]
Total finance lease cost	$ 109	$ 112	$ 217	$ 220

Leases (Supplemental Balance Sh

Leases (Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Related to Leases) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating Lease [Abstract]
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets	$ 24,692	$ 24,039
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	41,881	45,956
Operating lease liabilities	22,230	21,804
Total	25,704	25,255
Finance Lease [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	332,883	333,538
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(203,938)	(203,410)
Property, plant and equipment - net	128,945	130,128
Current portion of long-term debt	180	162
Long-term debt	1,683	1,872
Total finance lease obligation	$ 1,863	$ 2,034
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term	8 years 6 months	8 years 4 months 24 days
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term	10 years 2 months 12 days	10 years 8 months 12 days
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent	4.20%	4.70%
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent	8.20%	8.50%
Operating Lease
Operating Lease [Abstract]
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 3,474	$ 3,451
Finance Lease
Finance Lease [Abstract]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	3,468	3,534
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,347)	(1,296)
Property, plant and equipment - net	$ 2,121	$ 2,238

Leases (Future Minimum Maturiti

Leases (Future Minimum Maturities of Lease Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating Leases [Abstract]
Remainder of 2020	$ 2,447
2021	4,582
2022	4,277
2023	3,889
2024	3,357
Thereafter	13,031
Total lease payments	31,583
Less imputed interest	(5,879)
Total	25,704	$ 25,255
Finance Leases [Abstract]
Remainder of 2020	190
2021	309
2022	291
2023	262
2024	242
Thereafter	1,632
Total lease payments	2,926
Less inputed interest	(1,063)
Total	$ 1,863	$ 2,034

Preferred Shares (Narrative) (D

Preferred Shares (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares	Jun. 30, 2020€ / shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, authorized (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, par value | $ / shares	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, dividend payment terms	So long as the preferred dividends are declared and paid on a timely basis on each series of preferred shares, there are no limitations on our ability to declare a dividend on or repurchase AT&T common shares.
Preferred Stock, Redemption Terms	The preferred shares are optionally redeemable by AT&T at the liquidation price generally on or after five years from the issuance date, or upon certain other contingent events.
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, par value | $ / shares	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	48,000	48,000
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	48,000	48,000
Preferred stock, value, issued | $	$ 0	$ 0
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share | $ / shares	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.00%	5.00%
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, par value | $ / shares	$ 1
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	20,000	0
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	20,000	0
Preferred stock, value, issued | $	$ 0	$ 0
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share | € / shares			€ 100,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	2.875%
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, par value | $ / shares	$ 1
Preferred stock, outstanding (in shares)	70,000	0
Preferred stock, issued (in shares)	70,000	0
Preferred stock, value, issued | $	$ 0	$ 0
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share | $ / shares	$ 25,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	4.75%

Additional Financial Informat_3

Additional Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 16,941	$ 8,423	$ 12,130	$ 5,204
Restricted cash in Other current assets	3	15	69	61
Restricted cash in Other Assets	87	216	96	135
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	17,031	8,654	$ 12,295	$ 5,400
Cash Paid for Amounts Included in the Measurement of Lease Liabilities [Abstract]
Operating cash flows from operating leases	2,424	2,464
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease obligations	2,895	3,899
Cash paid (refunded) during the year for:
Interest	4,202	4,410
Income taxes, net of refunds	$ (214)	$ (32)

Additional Financial Informat_4

Additional Financial Information (Narrative) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2020USD ($)
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt Obligation			$ 168,964	$ 168,964
Repayment of long-term debt				17,284	$ 16,124
Notes And Debentures [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Commercial paper			$ 2,960	$ 2,960
Notes And Debentures [Member] | Long-Term Debt Issuance [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Weighted Average Interest Rate			3.50%	3.50%
Notes And Debentures [Member] | Long-Term Debt Redemptions [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Weighted Average Interest Rate			3.40%	3.40%
Term Credit Agreements [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Repayment of long-term debt			$ 1,800
Term Credit Agreements [Member] | Bank of America, N.A. [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Short-Term Borrowings						$ 5,500
Repayment of Short Term	$ 5,500
AT&T Global Notes Due 2027 To 2060 [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt			16,545
AT&T Global Notes Due 2028 To 2038 [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt		€ 3,000	3,281
AT&T Global Notes Due 2020 To 2047 [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Repayment of long-term debt			12,689
Other Debt [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Repayment of long-term debt			$ 1,000
Vendor Financing Program [Member]
Additional Financial Information [Line Items]
Noncash Investing Activities				$ 1,680	$ 1,265

Additional Financial Informat_5

Additional Financial Information - Subsequent Event (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Repayment of long-term debt			$ 17,284	$ 16,124
Global Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Subsequent Event, Description		In July 2020, we completed redemptions of $4,264 of AT&T, WarnerMedia and DIRECTV notes due 2022, with an average interest rate of 3.4%.
Repayment of long-term debt		$ 4,264
Weighted Average Interest Rate		3.40%
AT&T Global Notes Due 2028 To 2061 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Subsequent Event, Description	In August 2020, we issued $11,000 of global notes due 2028 to 2061, with an average interest rate of 2.7%.
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt	$ 11,000
Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.70%
Subsequent Event [Member] | Global Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Subsequent Event, Date		Jul. 31, 2020
Subsequent Event [Member] | AT&T Global Notes Due 2028 To 2061 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Subsequent Event, Date	Aug. 31, 2020

Uncategorized Items - T2q2010q.

Label	Element	Value
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 0
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	(293,000,000)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	0
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	316,000,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	0
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	(7,000,000)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	0
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of taxes	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 29,000,000