Level 3 Parent (LVLT) 10-Q 8 May 15 2015 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	5-May-15
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	794323
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		354,468,710
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue	$2,053	$1,609
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	723	614
Network Related Expenses	356	292
Depreciation and Amortization	288	184
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	370	255
Total Costs and Expenses	1,737	1,345
Operating Income	316	264
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	1	0
Interest expense	-180	-151
Other, net	-10	6
Total Other Expense	-189	-145
Income Before Income Taxes	127	119
Income Tax Expense	-5	-7
Net Income	$122	$112
Net Income Per Share	$0.35	$0.48
Shares Used to Compute Basic Net Income per Share (in thousands)	346,874	235,635
Net Income Per Share	$0.35	$0.47
Shares Used to Compute Diluted Net Income per Share (in thousands)	350,832	239,294

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Net Income	$122	$112
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes:
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	-141	5
Other, net	0	1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Income Taxes	-141	6
Income Tax Related to Items of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	-141	6
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	($19)	$118

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$1,114	$580
Restricted cash and securities	7	7
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts of $31 and $30, respectively	743	737
Other	188	165
Total Current Assets	2,052	1,489
Property, Plant and Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $9,719 and $9,629, respectively	9,744	9,860
Restricted Cash and Securities	19	20
Goodwill	7,740	7,689
Other Intangibles, net	1,298	1,414
Other Assets, net	450	475
Total Assets	21,303	20,947
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	629	664
Current portion of long-term debt	510	349
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	177	273
Accrued interest	187	174
Current portion of deferred revenue	300	287
Other	150	167
Total Current Liabilities	1,953	1,914
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	10,990	10,984
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	895	921
Other Liabilities	748	765
Total Liabilities	14,586	14,584
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares: no shares issued or outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 433,333,333 shares in both periods; 354,151,027 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2015 and 341,361,420 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014	4	3
Additional paid-in capital	19,531	19,159
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-288	-147
Accumulated deficit	-12,530	-12,652
Total Stockholders’ Equity	6,717	6,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$21,303	$20,947

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets Parentheticals (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$31	$30
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	$9,719	$9,629
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	433,333,333	433,333,333
Common stock, shares issued	354,151,027	341,361,420
Common stock, shares outstanding	354,151,027	341,361,420

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Income	$122	$112
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	288	184
Non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards	31	10
Accretion of debt discount and amortization of debt issuance costs	7	9
Accrued interest on long-term debt, net	22	14
Non-cash tax adjustments	0	-5
Deferred income taxes	-10	7
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	-1	-1
Other, net	21	-12
Changes in working capital items:
Receivables	-23	-26
Other current assets	-19	-18
Accounts payable	-24	-69
Deferred revenue	8	1
Other current liabilities	-117	-65
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	305	141
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	-254	-163
Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	1	1
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	1	1
Other	0	-1
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	-252	-162
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	492	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	-2	-3
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	490	-3
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	-9	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	534	-24
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	580	631
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	1,114	607
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash interest paid	147	128
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	7	11
Non-cash Financing Activities:
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred	1	0
Long-term debt conversion into equity	333	0
Accrued interest conversion into equity	$10	$0

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Description of Business
	Level 3 Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Level 3") is an international facilities-based provider (that is, a provider that owns or leases a substantial portion of the plant, property and equipment necessary to provide its services) of a broad range of integrated communications services. The Company created its communications network by constructing its own assets and through a combination of purchasing other companies and purchasing or leasing facilities from others. The Company designed its network to provide communications services that employ and take advantage of rapidly improving underlying optical, Internet Protocol, computing and storage technologies.
	On October 31, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of tw telecom inc. (“tw telecom”) and
	tw telecom became an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company through a tax-free, stock and
	cash reorganization (the "Merger"). See Note 2 - Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom.
	Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
	The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Level 3 Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").
	As part of its consolidation policy, the Company considers its controlled subsidiaries, investments in businesses in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary or does not have effective control but has the ability to significantly influence operating and financial policies, and variable interests resulting from economic arrangements that give the Company rights to economic risks or rewards of a legal entity. The Company does not have variable interests in a variable interest entity where it is required to consolidate
	the entity as the primary beneficiary or where it has concluded it is not the primary beneficiary.
	The accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014, which was derived from audited Consolidated Financial Statements, and the unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. In the opinion of the Company’s management, these financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the interim periods presented herein. The results of operations for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations expected for a full fiscal year.
	The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and such differences could be material.
	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which focuses on the consolidation evaluation for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities such as limited partnerships, limited liability corporations, and securitization structures. The new guidance is effective prospectively for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.
	In April 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the associated debt liability. The new guidance is effective retrospectively for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

Events_Associated_with_the_Mer

Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom [Abstract]
Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]	Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom inc.
	On October 31, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of tw telecom and tw telecom became an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company through a tax-free, stock and cash reorganization. As a result of the Merger, (1) each issued and outstanding share of common stock of tw telecom was exchanged for 0.7 shares of Level 3 common stock and $10 in cash ( together the "merger consideration"); (2) the outstanding stock options of tw telecom were canceled and the holders received the merger consideration, net of aggregate per share exercise price; (3) each restricted stock unit award of tw telecom was immediately vested and canceled and the holders received the merger consideration; and (4) each restricted stock unit of tw telecom was immediately vested and canceled and holders received the merger consideration.
	The combined results of operations of Level 3 and tw telecom were included in the Company's consolidated results of operations beginning in November 2014. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed of tw telecom were recognized at their acquisition date fair value. The purchase price allocation of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, including the assignment of goodwill to reporting units, will require extensive analysis and is expected to be completed no later than October 31, 2015. The following is a preliminary allocation of purchase price based on information currently available. The final identification of all the intangible assets acquired and determination of the purchase price allocation may be significantly different from the preliminary allocation reflected below.
		Purchase Price Allocation
		(dollars in millions)
	Assets:
	Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash	$	309
	Property, Plant and Equipment	1,556
	Goodwill	5,180
	Identifiable Intangible Assets	1,263
	Other Assets	141
	Total Assets	8,449
	Liabilities:
	Long-Term Debt	(2,099		)
	Deferred Revenue	(60		)
	Other Liabilities	(279		)
	Total Liabilities	(2,438		)
	Total Consideration to be Allocated	$	6,011
	As a result of new information available since the acquisition date, the Company made certain immaterial adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation during the first quarter of 2015, which have been reflected in the above table. The primary adjustment was a result of a single change in the purchase price allocation of $60 million related to the estimated value associated with the identifiable intangible assets and goodwill.
	The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of Level 3 and tw telecom as if the completion of the merger had occurred as of January 1, 2013 (dollars in millions, except per share data).
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Total Revenue	$	2,003
	Net Income	$	102
	Net Income per Share - Basic	$	0.31
	Net Income per Share- Diluted	$	0.3
	These pro forma results include certain adjustments, primarily due to increases in depreciation and amortization expense due to fair value adjustments of tangible and intangible assets, increases in interest expense due to Level 3's issuance of incremental debt to finance cash consideration partially offset by the refinancing of tw telecom debt that had higher interest rates than the incremental financing, and to eliminate historical transactions between Level 3 and tw telecom. The unaudited pro forma financial information is not intended to represent or be indicative of the actual results of operations of Level 3 that would have been reported had the Merger been completed on January 1, 2013, nor is it representative of future operating results of the Company. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not include any operating efficiencies or cost savings that Level 3 may achieve with respect to combining the companies.
	Acquisition related costs include transaction costs such as legal, accounting, valuation and other professional services as well as integration costs such as severance and retention. Acquisition related costs have been recorded in Network Related Expenses and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Since the acquisition date, Level 3 incurred total acquisition related transaction and integration costs of approximately $86 million through March 31, 2015. In addition, Level 3 expects to incur additional integration related costs through the remainder of 2015.

Earnings_Per_Share_Notes

Earnings Per Share (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Per Share
	The Company computes basic earnings per share by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income for the period by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and including the dilutive effect of common stock that would be issued assuming conversion or exercise of outstanding convertible notes and stock-based compensation awards.
	The effect of approximately 18 million shares issuable pursuant to the various series of convertible notes outstanding at March 31, 2014 has not been included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive to the computation. The effect of approximately 4 million and 5 million stock options, outperform stock appreciation rights ("OSOs"), and restricted stock units ("RSUs") outstanding at March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, respectively, have been included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Acquired_Intangible_Assets_Not

Acquired Intangible Assets (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquired Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Acquired Intangible Assets	Acquired Intangible Assets
	Identifiable acquisition-related intangible assets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (dollars in millions):
		Gross		Accumulated			Net
		Carrying		Amortization
		Amount
	March 31, 2015
	Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Customer Contracts and Relationships	$	1,975	$	(789	)	$	1,186
	Trademarks	55		(48		)	7
	Patents and Developed Technology	230		(140		)	90
		2,260		(977		)	1,283
	Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Trade Name	15		—			15
		$	2,275	$	(977	)	$	1,298
	December 31, 2014
	Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Customer Contracts and Relationships	$	1,977	$	(741	)	$	1,236
	Trademarks	115		(47		)	68
	Patents and Developed Technology	228		(133		)	95
		2,320		(921		)	1,399
	Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Trade Name	15		—			15
		$	2,335	$	(921	)	$	1,414
	Acquired finite-lived intangible asset amortization expense was $56 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and $19 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	At March 31, 2015, the weighted average remaining useful lives of the Company's acquired finite-lived intangible assets was 6.6 years for customer contracts and relationships, 0.5 years for trademarks and 3.8 years for patents and developed technology.
	As of March 31, 2015, estimated amortization expense for the Company’s finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets over the next five years is as follows (dollars in millions):
	2015 (remaining nine months)	$	171
	2016	212
	2017	196
	2018	193
	2019	181
	2020	166
	Thereafter	164
		$	1,283

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and securities, receivables, accounts payable, capital leases, other liabilities and long-term debt (including the current portion). The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and securities, receivables, accounts payable, capital leases and other liabilities approximated their fair values at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
	GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements and disclosures for assets and liabilities required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as interest and foreign exchange rates, transfer restrictions, and risk of non-performance.
	Fair Value Hierarchy
	GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The fair value measurement of each class of assets and liabilities is dependent upon its categorization within the fair value hierarchy, based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement of each class of asset and liability. GAAP establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	Level 1— Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	Level 2— Unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
	Level 3— Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
	The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers within the fair value hierarchy during each of the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014.
	The table below presents the fair values for the Company’s long-term debt as well as the input levels used to determine these fair values as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
						Fair Value Measurement Using
		Total Carrying Value in Consolidated Balance Sheets				Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
						Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1)
	(dollars in millions)	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Liabilities Not Recorded at Fair Value in the Financial Statements:
	Long-term Debt, including the current portion:
	Term Loans	$	4,591	$	4,590	$	4,633	$	4,593	$	—	$	—
	Senior Notes	6,703		6,203		7,022		6,481		—		—
	Convertible Notes	—		333		—		—		—		868
	Capital Leases and Other	206		207		—		—		206		207
	Total Long-term Debt, including the current portion	$	11,500	$	11,333	$	11,655	$	11,074	$	206	$	1,075
	The Company does not have any assets or liabilities where the fair value is measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
	Term Loans
	The fair value of the Term Loans referenced above was approximately $4.6 billion at both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014. The fair value of each loan is based on quoted prices for identical terms and maturities. Each loan tranche is actively traded.
	Senior Notes
	The fair value of the Senior Notes referenced above was approximately $7.0 billion at March 31, 2015 and $6.5 billion at December 31, 2014, respectively, based on quoted prices for identical terms and maturities. Each series of notes is actively traded.
	Convertible Notes
	The fair value of the Company’s Convertible Notes was approximately $868 million at December 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2015, all of the Company's Convertible Notes had converted to common equity. The estimated fair value of the Convertible Notes is based on a Black-Scholes valuation model and an income approach using discounted cash flows. The most significant inputs affecting the valuation are the pricing quotes provided by market participants that incorporate spreads to the Treasury curve, security coupon, convertible optionality, corporate and security credit ratings, maturity date, liquidity and other equity option inputs, such as the risk-free rate, underlying stock price, strike price of the embedded derivative, estimated volatility and maturity inputs for the option component and for the bond component, among other security characteristics and relative value at both the borrower entity level and across other securities with similar terms. The fair value of each instrument is obtained by adding together the value derived by discounting the security’s coupon or interest payment using a risk-adjusted discount rate and the value calculated from the embedded equity option based on the estimated volatility of the Company’s stock price, conversion rate of the particular Convertible Note, remaining time to maturity and risk-free rate. The Convertible Notes were unsecured obligations of Level 3 Communications, Inc. No subsidiary of Level 3 Communications, Inc. provided a guarantee of the Convertible Notes.
	Capital Leases
	The fair value of the Company's capital leases was determined by discounting anticipated future cash flows derived from the contractual terms of the obligations and observable market interest and foreign exchange rates.

LongTerm_Debt_Notes

Long-Term Debt (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	Long-Term Debt
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, long-term debt was as follows:
	(dollars in millions)		March 31,			December 31,
			2015			2014
	Senior Secured Term Loan*		$	4,611		$	4,611
	Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2018 (3.826% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014)		300			300
	9.375% Senior Notes due 2019		500			500
	8.125% Senior Notes due 2019		1,200			1,200
	8.875% Senior Notes due 2019		300			300
	8.625% Senior Notes due 2020		900			900
	7% Senior Notes due 2020		775			775
	6.125% Senior Notes due 2021		640			640
	5.375% Senior Notes due 2022		1,000			1,000
	5.75% Senior Notes due 2022		600			600
	5.625% Senior Notes due 2023		500			—
	7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015		—			58
	7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 Series B		—			275
	Capital Leases		206			207
	Total Debt Obligations		11,532			11,366
	Unamortized Discount:
	Discount on Senior Secured Term Loan		(20		)	(21		)
	Discount on 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019		(6		)	(6		)
	Discount on 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019		(6		)	(6		)
	Total Unamortized Discount		(32		)	(33		)
	Carrying Value of Debt		11,500			11,333
	Less current portion		(510		)	(349		)
	Long-term Debt, less current portion		$	10,990		$	10,984
	* The $2 billion Tranche B Term Loan due 2022 had an interest rate of 4.5% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The $815 million Tranche B-III 2019 Term Loan due 2019 and the $1.796 billion Tranche B 2020 Term Loan due 2020 each had an interest rate of 4.0% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
	2015 Debt Issuances and Registrations
	5.625% Senior Notes due 2023
	In January 2015, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Level 3 Financing, Inc. (“Level 3 Financing”) issued $500 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “5.625% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds from the offering of the 5.625% Senior Notes, together with cash on hand, were used to redeem, on April 1, 2015, all of Level 3 Financing’s approximately $500 million aggregate principal amount of 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019, including accrued interest, applicable premiums and expenses.
	The 5.625% Senior Notes will mature on February 1, 2023. Interest on the 5.625% Senior Notes is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2015.
	Debt issuance costs of approximately $9 million were capitalized and are being amortized over the term of the notes.
	The 5.625% Senior Notes are subject to redemption at the option of Level 3 Financing, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, (i) prior to February 1, 2018, at 100% of the principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes so redeemed plus (A) the applicable make-whole premium set forth in the Indenture, as of the redemption date and (B) accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including, the redemption date, and (ii) on and after February 1, 2018, at the redemption prices set forth below (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including the redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve months beginning February 1, of the years indicated below:
	Year	Redemption Price
	2018	102.8125	%
	2019	101.4063	%
	2020 and thereafter	100	%
	At any time or from time to time on or prior to February 1, 2018, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 5.625% Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 105.625% of the principal amount of the 5.625% Senior Notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (if any) up to, but not including the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds contributed to Level 3 Financing of one or more private placements to persons other than affiliates of Level 3 or underwritten public offerings of common stock of Level 3 resulting, in each case, in gross proceeds of at least $100 million in the aggregate. However, at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 5.625% Senior Notes must remain outstanding immediately after giving effect to such redemption. Any such redemption shall be made within 90 days following such private placement or public offering upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice.
	The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsubordinated unsecured basis by the Company and Level 3 Communications, LLC.
	7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015
	During the first quarter of 2015, holders converted the remaining $333 million aggregate principal amount of the Level 3's 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 to common equity. Upon conversion, the Company issued an aggregate of approximately 12 million shares of Level 3 common stock, representing the approximately 37 shares per $1,000 note into which the notes were then convertible.
	Long-Term Debt Maturities
	Aggregate future contractual maturities of long-term debt and capital leases (excluding discounts) were as follows as of March 31, 2015 (dollars in millions):
	2015 (remaining nine months)	$	515
	2016	8
	2017	8
	2018	308
	2019	2,323
	2020	3,478
	Thereafter	4,892
		$	11,532

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The accumulated balances for each classification of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:
	(dollars in millions)	Net Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Defined Benefit Pension Plans			Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	67		$	(31	)	$	36
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	5			(2		)	3
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			3			3
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	72		$	(30	)	$	42
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(111	)	$	(36	)	$	(147	)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(141		)	—			(141		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			—
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	(252	)	$	(36	)	$	(288	)

StockBased_Compensation_Notes

Stock-Based Compensation (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement and Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments Disclosure [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation
	The following table summarizes non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Outperform Stock Options	$	2	$	2
	Restricted Stock Units	11		6
	Performance Restricted Stock Units	5		—
	401(k) Match Expense	13		7
	Restricted Stock Unit Bonus Grant	—		(5		)
		$	31	$	10
	As of March 31, 2015, there were approximately 1 million OSOs outstanding. As of March 31, 2015, there were approximately 4 million restricted stock units ("RSUs") and performance restricted stock units ("PRSUs") outstanding. The Company's Management Incentive and Retention Plan was completed in the first quarter 2014.

Segment_Information_Notes

Segment Information (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	Segment Information
	Operating segments are defined under GAAP as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Company's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. As a result of the integration of tw telecom (see Note 2 - Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom), the Company reorganized its management reporting structure to reflect the way in which it allocates resources and assesses performance. Effective the first quarter of 2015, tw telecom has been integrated into North America. As a result of the change, the Company's reportable segments now consist of 1) North America, 2) Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and 3) Latin America. Other separate business interests that are not segments include interest, certain corporate assets and overhead costs, and certain other general and administrative costs that are not allocated to any of the operating segments.
	The CODM measures and evaluates segment performance primarily based upon revenue, revenue growth and Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Company, is equal to net income (loss) from the Consolidated Statements of Operations before (1) income tax benefit (expense), (2) total other income (expense), (3) non-cash impairment charges included within selling, general and administrative expenses and network related expenses, (4) depreciation and amortization expense, and (5) non-cash stock-based compensation expense included within selling, general and administrative expenses and network related expenses.
	Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement under GAAP and may not be used in the same way by other companies. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important part of the Company's internal reporting and is a key measure used by management to evaluate profitability and operating performance of the Company and to make resource allocation decisions. Management believes such measurement is especially important in a capital-intensive industry such as telecommunications. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to compare the Company's performance to that of its competitors and to eliminate certain non-cash and non-operating items in order to consistently measure from period to period its ability to fund capital expenditures, fund growth, service debt and determine bonuses.
	Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash impairment charges and non-cash stock-based compensation expense because of the non-cash nature of these items. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes interest income, interest expense and income tax benefit (expense) because these items are associated with the Company's capitalization and tax structures. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization expense because these non-cash expenses reflect the effect of capital investments which management believes are better evaluated through cash flow measures. Adjusted EBITDA excludes net other income (expense) because these items are not related to the primary operations of the Company.
	There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, including the difficulty associated with comparing companies that use similar performance measures whose calculations may differ from the Company's calculations. Additionally, this financial measure does not include certain significant items such as interest income, interest expense, income tax benefit (expense), depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash impairment charges, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, and net other income (expense). Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.
	The following table presents revenue by segment:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Core Network Services Revenue:
	North America	$	1,535		$	1,043
	EMEA	207			225
	Latin America	185			189
	Total Core Network Services Revenue	1,927			1,457
	Wholesale Voice Services and Other Revenue:
	North America	118			145
	EMEA	4			5
	Latin America	4			2
	Total Wholesale Voice Services and Other Revenue	126			152
	Total Consolidated Revenue	$	2,053		$	1,609
	The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA by segment and reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Adjusted EBITDA:
	North America	$	740		$	488
	EMEA	56			54
	Latin America	80			82
	Unallocated Corporate Expenses	(241		)	(166		)
	Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA	635			458
	Income Tax Expense	(5		)	(7		)
	Total Other Expense	(189		)	(145		)
	Depreciation and Amortization	(288		)	(184		)
	Non-Cash Stock Compensation Attributable to Stock Awards	(31		)	(10		)
	Total Consolidated Net Income	$	122		$	112
	The following table presents capital expenditures by segment and reconciles capital expenditures to consolidated capital expenditures:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Capital Expenditures:
	North America	$	167		$	97
	EMEA	28			19
	Latin America	28			28
	Unallocated Corporate Capital Expenditures	31			19
	Consolidated Capital Expenditures	$	254		$	163
	The following table presents total consolidated assets by segment:
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Assets:
	North America	$	16,781		$	16,242
	EMEA	1,831			1,970
	Latin America	2,406			2,451
	Other	285			284
	Total Consolidated Assets	$	21,303		$	20,947

Commitments_Contingencies_and_

Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items	Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items
	The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and other contingent liabilities that individually or in the aggregate could materially affect its financial condition, future results of operations or cash flows. Amounts accrued for such contingencies aggregate to $163 million and are included in “Other” current liabilities and “Other Liabilities” in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2015. The establishment of an accrual does not mean that actual funds have been set aside to satisfy a given contingency. Thus, the resolution of a particular contingency for the amount accrued may have no effect on the Company's results of operations but could materially adversely affect its cash flows for the affected period.
	The Company reviews its accruals at least quarterly and adjusts them to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. Below is a description of material legal proceedings and other contingencies pending at March 31, 2015. Although the Company believes it has accrued for these matters in accordance with the accounting guidance for contingencies, contingencies are inherently unpredictable and it is possible that results of operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected in any particular period by unfavorable developments in, or resolution or disposition of, one or more of these matters. For those contingencies in respect of which the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that a loss may result that is materially in excess of the accrual (if any) established for the matter, the Company has either provided an estimate of such possible loss or range of loss or included a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. In addition to the contingencies described below, the Company is party to many other legal proceedings and contingencies, the resolution of which is not expected to materially affect its financial condition or future results of operations beyond the amounts accrued.
	Rights-of-Way Litigation
	The Company is party to a number of purported class action lawsuits involving its right to install fiber optic cable network in railroad right-of-ways adjacent to plaintiffs' land. In general, the Company obtained the rights to construct its networks from railroads, utilities, and others, and has installed its networks along the rights-of-way so granted. Plaintiffs in the purported class actions assert that they are the owners of lands over which the fiber optic cable networks pass, and that the railroads, utilities and others who granted the Company the right to construct and maintain its network did not have the legal authority to do so. The complaints seek damages on theories of trespass, unjust enrichment and slander of title and property, as well as punitive damages. The Company has also received, and may in the future receive, claims and demands related to rights-of-way issues similar to the issues in these cases that may be based on similar or different legal theories. The Company has defeated motions for class certification in a number of these actions but expects that, absent settlement of these actions, plaintiffs in the pending lawsuits will continue to seek certification of statewide or multi-state classes. The only lawsuit in which a class was certified against the Company, absent an agreed upon settlement, occurred in Koyle, et. al. v. Level 3 Communications, Inc., et. al., a purported two state class action filed in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. The Koyle lawsuit has been dismissed pursuant to a settlement reached in November 2010 as described further below.
	The Company negotiated a series of class settlements affecting all persons who own or owned land next to or near railroad rights of way in which it has installed its fiber optic cable networks. The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Kingsborough v. Sprint Communications Co. L.P. granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement; however, on September 10, 2009, the court denied a motion for final approval of the settlement on the basis that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction and dismissed the case.
	In November 2010, the Company negotiated revised settlement terms for a series of state class settlements affecting all persons who own or owned land next to or near railroad rights of way in which the Company has installed its fiber optic cable networks. The Company is currently pursuing presentment of the settlement in applicable jurisdictions. The settlements, affecting current and former landowners, have received final federal court approval in multiple states and the parties are engaged in the claims process for those states, including payments of claims. The settlement has also been presented to federal courts in additional states and approval is pending.
	Management believes that the Company has substantial defenses to the claims asserted in all of these actions and intends to defend them vigorously if a satisfactory settlement is not ultimately approved for all affected landowners.
	Peruvian Tax Litigation
	Beginning in 2005, one of the Company's Peruvian subsidiaries received a number of assessments for tax, penalties and interest for calendar years 2001 and 2002. Peruvian tax authorities ("SUNAT") took the position that the Peruvian subsidiary incorrectly documented its importations resulting in additional income tax withholding and value-added taxes ("VAT"). The total amount of the asserted claims, including potential interest and penalties, was $26 million, consisting of $3 million for income tax withholding in connection with the import of services for calendar years 2001 and 2002, $7 million for VAT in connection with the import of services for calendar years 2001 and 2002, and $16 million in connection with the disallowance of VAT credits for periods beginning in 2005. Due to accrued interest and foreign exchange effects, and taking into account the developments described below, the total amount of exposure is $53 million at March 31, 2015.
	The Company challenged the tax assessments during 2005 by filing administrative claims before SUNAT. During August 2006 and June 2007, SUNAT rejected the Company's administrative claims, thereby confirming the assessments. Appeals were filed in September 2006 and July 2007 with the Tribunal Fiscal, the highest level of administrative review, which is not part of the Peru judiciary (the "Tribunal"). The 2001 and 2002 assessed withholding tax assessments were resolved in favor of the Company in separate administrative resolutions; however, the penalties with respect to withholding tax remain at issue in the administrative appeals.
	In October 2011, the Tribunal issued its administrative resolution with respect to the calendar year 2002 tax period regarding VAT, associated penalties and penalties associated with withholding taxes, deciding the central issue underlying the assessments in the government's favor, while confirming the assessment in part and denying a portion of the assessment on procedural grounds. The Company appealed the Tribunal's October 2011 administrative resolutions to the judicial court in Peru. In September 2014, the first judicial court rendered a decision largely in the Company’s favor on the central issue underlying the assessments. SUNAT has appealed the court’s decision to the next judicial level.
	During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company released a reserve of $28 million for tax, penalty and associated interest related to calendar year 2002 due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. In October 2013, the Tribunal notified the Company of its July 2013 administrative resolution with respect to the calendar year 2001 tax period regarding VAT, associated penalties and penalties associated with withholding taxes, determining the central issue underlying the assessments in the government's favor, while confirming the assessment in part and denying a portion of the assessment on procedural grounds. The Company appealed the Tribunal's July 2013 administrative resolutions to the judicial court in Peru. In April 2015, the first judicial court rendered a decision largely in SUNAT’s favor on the central issue underlying the assessments. The Company has appealed the court’s decision to the next judicial level.
	In December 2013, SUNAT initiated an audit of calendar year 2001. In June 2014, the Company was served with SUNAT’s assessments of the 2001 VAT credits declared null by the Tribunal and the corresponding fine. In July 2014, the Company challenged these assessments by filing administrative claims before SUNAT. In January 2015, SUNAT rejected the administrative claims, thereby confirming the assessments. The Company filed an appeal with the Tribunal in February 2015.
	Employee Severance and Contractor Termination Disputes
	A number of former employees and third-party contractors have asserted a variety of claims in litigation against certain Latin American subsidiaries of the Company for separation pay, severance, commissions, pension benefits, unpaid vacation pay, breach of employment contracts, unpaid performance bonuses, property damages, moral damages and related statutory penalties, fines, costs and expenses (including accrued interest, attorneys fees and statutorily mandated inflation adjustments) as a result of their separation from the Company or termination of service relationships. The Company is vigorously defending itself against the asserted claims, which aggregate to approximately $44 million at March 31, 2015.
	Brazilian Tax Claims
	In December 2004, March 2009, April 2009 and July 2014, the São Paulo state tax authorities issued tax assessments against one of the Company's Brazilian subsidiaries for the Tax on Distribution of Goods and Services (“ICMS”) with respect to revenue from leasing movable properties (in the case of the December 2004, March 2009 and July 2014 assessments) and revenue from the provision of Internet access services (in the case of the April 2009 and July 2014 assessments), by treating such activities as the provision of communications services, to which the ICMS tax applies. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company released a reserve of $6 million for tax, penalty and associated interest corresponding to the ICMS applicable on the provision of Internet access services due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for the January 2008 to June 2009 tax periods. In September 2002, July 2009 and May 2012, the Rio de Janeiro state tax authorities issued tax assessments to the same Brazilian subsidiary on similar issues. The Company has filed objections to these assessments, arguing that the lease of assets and the provision of Internet access are not communication services subject to ICMS. The objections to the September 2002, December 2004 and March 2009 assessments were rejected by the respective state administrative courts, and the Company has appealed those decisions to the judicial courts. In October 2012 and June 2014, the Company received favorable rulings from the lower court on the December 2004 and March 2009 assessments regarding equipment leasing, but those rulings are subject to appeal by the state. No ruling has been obtained with respect to the September 2002 assessment. The objections to the April and July 2009 and May 2012 assessments are still pending final administrative decisions. The July 2014 assessment was confirmed during the fourth quarter of 2014 at the first administrative level and the Company appealed this decision to the second administrative level. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company entered into an amnesty with the Rio de Janeiro state tax authorities with respect to potential ICMS liability for the 2008 tax period. As a result, the Company paid $5 million and released a reserve of $3 million of tax corresponding to the ICMS applicable on the provision of Internet access services.
	The Company is vigorously contesting all such assessments in both states, and in particular, views the assessment of ICMS on revenue from leasing movable properties to be without merit. Nevertheless, the Company believes that it is reasonably possible that these assessments could result in a loss of up to $48 million at March 31, 2015 in excess of the accruals established for these matters.
	Letters of Credit
	It is customary for Level 3 to use various financial instruments in the normal course of business. These instruments include letters of credit. Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued on behalf of Level 3 in accordance with specified terms and conditions. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Level 3 had outstanding letters of credit or other similar obligations of approximately $25 million and $28 million, respectively, of which $22 million and $23 million are collateralized by cash that is reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as restricted cash and securities. The Company does not believe exposure to loss related to its letters of credit is material.

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Abstract]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
	Level 3 Financing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has issued senior notes that are unsecured obligations of Level 3 Financing, Inc.; however, they are also fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Level 3 Communications, LLC.
	In conjunction with the registration of the senior notes, the accompanying condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 “Financial statements of guarantors and affiliates whose securities collateralize an issue registered or being registered.”
	The operating activities of the separate legal entities included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are interdependent. The accompanying condensed consolidating financial information presents the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of each legal entity and, on an aggregate basis, the other non-guarantor subsidiaries based on amounts incurred by such entities, and is not intended to present the operating results of those legal entities on a stand-alone basis. Level 3 Communications, LLC leases equipment and certain facilities from other wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. These transactions are eliminated in the consolidated results of the Company.
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	818		$	1,287		$	(52	)	$	2,053
	Costs and Expense:
	Network Access Costs	—			—			320			455			(52		)	723
	Network Related Expenses	—			—			230			126			—			356
	Depreciation and Amortization	—			—			74			214			—			288
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	1			—			247			122			—			370
	Total Costs and Expenses	1			—			871			917			(52		)	1,737
	Operating Income (Loss)	(1		)	—			(53		)	370			—			316
	Other Income (Expense):
	Interest Income	—			—			—			1			—			1
	Interest expense	(19		)	(155		)	(1		)	(5		)	—			(180		)
	Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	333			501			(766		)	(68		)	—			—
	Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(191		)	(536		)	177			—			550			—
	Other, net	—			—			2			(12		)	—			(10		)
	Total Other Income (Expense)	123			(190		)	(588		)	(84		)	550			(189		)
	Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	122			(190		)	(641		)	286			550			127
	Income Tax Expense	—			(1		)	—			(4		)	—			(5		)
	Net Income (Loss)	122			(191		)	(641		)	282			550			122
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	(141		)	—			—			(141		)	141			(141		)
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$	(19	)	$	(191	)	$	(641	)	$	141		$	691		$	(19	)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	737		$	931		$	(59	)	$	1,609
	Costs and Expense:
	Network Access Costs	—			—			290			383			(59		)	614
	Network Related Expenses	—			—			182			110			—			292
	Depreciation and Amortization	—			—			70			114			—			184
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	—			—			143			112			—			255
	Total Costs and Expenses	—			—			685			719			(59		)	1,345
	Operating Income	—			—			52			212			—			264
	Other Income (Expense):
	Interest expense	(34		)	(112		)	(1		)	(4		)	—			(151		)
	Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	288			459			(712		)	(35		)	—			—
	Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(142		)	(488		)	178			—			452			—
	Other, net	—			—			3			3			—			6
	Total Other Expense	112			(141		)	(532		)	(36		)	452			(145		)
	Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	112			(141		)	(480		)	176			452			119
	Income Tax Expense	—			(1		)	(1		)	(5		)	—			(7		)
	Net Income (Loss)	112			(142		)	(481		)	171			452			112
	Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Income Taxes	6			—			—			6			(6		)	6
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$	118		$	(142	)	$	(481	)	$	177		$	446		$	118
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Assets
	Current Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	14		$	5		$	841		$	254		$	—		$	1,114
	Restricted cash and securities	—			—			1			6			—			7
	Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	—			—			41			702			—			743
	Due from affiliates	14,987			22,125			—			—			(37,112		)	—
	Other	2			27			70			89			—			188
	Total Current Assets	15,003			22,157			953			1,051			(37,112		)	2,052
	Property, Plant, and Equipment, net	—			—			3,181			6,563			—			9,744
Restricted Cash and Securities	3			—			15			1			—			19
Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net	—			—			371			8,667			—			9,038
Investment in Subsidiaries	16,700			14,342			3,726			—			(34,768		)	—
Other Assets, net	25			126			9			290			—			450
Total Assets	$	31,731		$	36,625		$	8,255		$	16,572		$	(71,880	)	$	21,303
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	—		$	—		$	225		$	404		$	—		$	629
Current portion of long-term debt	—			494			3			13			—			510
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	—			—			135			42			—			177
Accrued interest	12			170			—			5			—			187
Current portion of deferred revenue	—			—			114			186			—			300
Due to affiliates	—			—			35,463			1,649			(37,112		)	—
Other	—			2			82			66			—			150
Total Current Liabilities	12			666			36,022			2,365			(37,112		)	1,953
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900			9,900			16			174			—			10,990
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	—			—			599			296			—			895
Other Liabilities	15			24			127			582			—			748
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	30,804			26,035			(28,509		)	13,155			(34,768		)	6,717
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$	31,731		$	36,625		$	8,255		$	16,572		$	(71,880	)	$	21,303
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
December 31, 2014
	Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
	(dollars in millions)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7		$	5		$	307		$	261		$	—		$	580
Restricted cash and securities	—			—			1			6			—			7
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	—			—			34			703			—			737
Due from affiliates	14,522			21,270			—			—			(35,792		)	—
Other	2			21			45			97			—			165
Total Current Assets	14,531			21,296			387			1,067			(35,792		)	1,489
Property, Plant, and Equipment, net	—			—			3,152			6,708			—			9,860
Restricted Cash and Securities	3			—			16			1			—			20
Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net	—			—			373			8,730			—			9,103
Investment in Subsidiaries	16,686			14,777			3,729			—			(35,192		)	—
Other Assets, net	28			129			9			309			—			475
Total Assets	$	31,248		$	36,202		$	7,666		$	16,815		$	(70,984	)	$	20,947
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	—		$	—		$	215		$	449		$	—		$	664
Current portion of long-term debt	333			—			3			13			—			349
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	—			—			174			99			—			273
Accrued interest	12			158			—			4			—			174
Current portion of deferred revenue	—			—			118			169			—			287
Due to affiliates	—			—			34,401			1,391			(35,792		)	—
Other	—			2			62			103			—			167
Total Current Liabilities	345			160			34,973			2,228			(35,792		)	1,914
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900			9,893			16			175			—			10,984
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	—			—			617			304			—			921
Other Liabilities	16			24			125			600			—			765
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	29,987			26,125			(28,065		)	13,508			(35,192		)	6,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$	31,248		$	36,202		$	7,666		$	16,815		$	(70,984	)	$	20,947
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
	Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
	(dollars in millions)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(7	)	$	(137	)	$	(82	)	$	531		$	—		$	305
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	—			—			(77		)	(177		)	—			(254		)
Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	—			—			1			—			—			1
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	—			—			—			1			—			1
Other	—			—			—			—			—			—
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	—			—			(76		)	(176		)	—			(252		)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	—			492			—			—			—			492
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	—			—			—			(2		)	—			(2		)
Increase (decrease) due from/to affiliates, net	14			(355		)	692			(351		)	—			—
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	14			137			692			(353		)	—			490
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			—			(9		)	—			(9		)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	7			—			534			(7		)	—			534
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	7			5			307			261			—			580
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	14		$	5		$	841		$	254		$	—		$	1,114
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
	(dollars in millions)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(16	)	$	(125	)	$	183		$	99		$	—		$	141
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	—			—			(74		)	(89		)	—			(163		)
Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	—			—			—			1			—			1
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	—			—			—			1			—			1
Other	—			—			—			(1		)	—			(1		)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	—			—			(74		)	(88		)	—			(162		)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	—			—			—			—			—			—
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	—			—			—			(3		)	—			(3		)
Increase (decrease) due from/to affiliates, net	16			125			(100		)	(41		)	—			—
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	16			125			(100		)	(44		)	—			(3		)
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			—			—			—			—
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			9			(33		)	—			(24		)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	8			6			347			270			—			631
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	8		$	6		$	356		$	237		$	—		$	607

Subsequent_Events_Notes

Subsequent Events (Notes)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Subsequent Event [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Subsequent Events
	On April 1, 2015, all of the outstanding principal amount of the 9.375% Senior Notes Due 2019 was redeemed at a redemption price equal to 104.688% of the principal amount. To fund the redemption of these notes, Level 3 Financing used the net proceeds, along with cash on hand, from the issuance on January 29, 2015 of its 5.625% Senior Notes due 2023.  The Company will recognize a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $36 million in Other, net in the second quarter of 2015 as a result of the redemption of the 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019.
	On April 28, 2015, Level 3 Financing issued $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes") and $800 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Senior Notes due 2025 (the "2025 Notes") in a private offering. The 2023 Notes were priced at par and mature on May 1, 2023, and will pay interest on March 1 and September 1 of each year beginning on September 1, 2015. The 2025 Notes were priced at par and mature on May 1, 2025, and will pay interest on March 1 and September 1 of each year beginning on September 1, 2015.
	The net proceeds from the offering of the 2023 Notes and 2025 Notes together with cash on hand, will be used to redeem all $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of Level 3 Financing’s 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 and all $300 million aggregate principal amount of the Company's 8.875% Senior Notes due 2019. In the second quarter 2015, the Company expects to recognize a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $100 million as a result of these transactions that will be recognized in Other, net.
	On May 8, 2015, Level 3 Financing completed the refinancing of its $2 billion senior secured Tranche B Term Loan due 2022 with an aggregate $2 billion principal amount of a new senior secured Tranche B-II 2022 Term Loan ("Tranche B-II 2022 Term Loan"). The Tranche B-II 2022 Term Loan bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.75 percent, with a minimum LIBOR of 0.75 percent, and will mature on May 31, 2022. The Tranche B-II 2022 Term Loan was priced to lenders at par, with the payment to the lenders of an upfront fee of 25 basis points at closing. In the second quarter 2015, the Company expects to recognize a loss on modification and extinguishment of debt of approximately $27 million as a result of this transaction that will be recognized in Other, net.

Organization_and_Summary_of_Si1

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation	Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
	The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Level 3 Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").
	As part of its consolidation policy, the Company considers its controlled subsidiaries, investments in businesses in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary or does not have effective control but has the ability to significantly influence operating and financial policies, and variable interests resulting from economic arrangements that give the Company rights to economic risks or rewards of a legal entity. The Company does not have variable interests in a variable interest entity where it is required to consolidate
	the entity as the primary beneficiary or where it has concluded it is not the primary beneficiary.

Acquired_Intangible_Assets_Tab

Acquired Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquired Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of acquisition-related intangible assets	Identifiable acquisition-related intangible assets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows (dollars in millions):
		Gross		Accumulated			Net
		Carrying		Amortization
		Amount
	March 31, 2015
	Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Customer Contracts and Relationships	$	1,975	$	(789	)	$	1,186
	Trademarks	55		(48		)	7
	Patents and Developed Technology	230		(140		)	90
		2,260		(977		)	1,283
	Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Trade Name	15		—			15
		$	2,275	$	(977	)	$	1,298
	December 31, 2014
	Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Customer Contracts and Relationships	$	1,977	$	(741	)	$	1,236
	Trademarks	115		(47		)	68
	Patents and Developed Technology	228		(133		)	95
		2,320		(921		)	1,399
	Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
	Trade Name	15		—			15
		$	2,335	$	(921	)	$	1,414
Schedule of estimated amortization expense of finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets	As of March 31, 2015, estimated amortization expense for the Company’s finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets over the next five years is as follows (dollars in millions):
	2015 (remaining nine months)	$	171
	2016	212
	2017	196
	2018	193
	2019	181
	2020	166
	Thereafter	164
		$	1,283

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of fair value of liabilities measured on a recurring basis	The table below presents the fair values for the Company’s long-term debt as well as the input levels used to determine these fair values as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
						Fair Value Measurement Using
		Total Carrying Value in Consolidated Balance Sheets				Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
						Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1)
	(dollars in millions)	March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,		March 31,		December 31,
		2015		2014		2015		2014		2015		2014
	Liabilities Not Recorded at Fair Value in the Financial Statements:
	Long-term Debt, including the current portion:
	Term Loans	$	4,591	$	4,590	$	4,633	$	4,593	$	—	$	—
	Senior Notes	6,703		6,203		7,022		6,481		—		—
	Convertible Notes	—		333		—		—		—		868
	Capital Leases and Other	206		207		—		—		206		207
	Total Long-term Debt, including the current portion	$	11,500	$	11,333	$	11,655	$	11,074	$	206	$	1,075
	The Company does not have any assets or liabilities where the fair value is measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Long-term debt
Schedule of long-term debt	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, long-term debt was as follows:
	(dollars in millions)		March 31,			December 31,
			2015			2014
	Senior Secured Term Loan*		$	4,611		$	4,611
	Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2018 (3.826% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014)		300			300
	9.375% Senior Notes due 2019		500			500
	8.125% Senior Notes due 2019		1,200			1,200
	8.875% Senior Notes due 2019		300			300
	8.625% Senior Notes due 2020		900			900
	7% Senior Notes due 2020		775			775
	6.125% Senior Notes due 2021		640			640
	5.375% Senior Notes due 2022		1,000			1,000
	5.75% Senior Notes due 2022		600			600
	5.625% Senior Notes due 2023		500			—
	7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015		—			58
	7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 Series B		—			275
	Capital Leases		206			207
	Total Debt Obligations		11,532			11,366
	Unamortized Discount:
	Discount on Senior Secured Term Loan		(20		)	(21		)
	Discount on 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019		(6		)	(6		)
	Discount on 8.125% Senior Notes due 2019		(6		)	(6		)
	Total Unamortized Discount		(32		)	(33		)
	Carrying Value of Debt		11,500			11,333
	Less current portion		(510		)	(349		)
	Long-term Debt, less current portion		$	10,990		$	10,984
	* The $2 billion Tranche B Term Loan due 2022 had an interest rate of 4.5% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The $815 million Tranche B-III 2019 Term Loan due 2019 and the $1.796 billion Tranche B 2020 Term Loan due 2020 each had an interest rate of 4.0% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
Schedule of aggregate future contractual maturities of long-term debt and capital leases (excluding discounts)	Long-Term Debt Maturities
	Aggregate future contractual maturities of long-term debt and capital leases (excluding discounts) were as follows as of March 31, 2015 (dollars in millions):
	2015 (remaining nine months)	$	515
	2016	8
	2017	8
	2018	308
	2019	2,323
	2020	3,478
	Thereafter	4,892
		$	11,532

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	The accumulated balances for each classification of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:
	(dollars in millions)	Net Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Defined Benefit Pension Plans			Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	67		$	(31	)	$	36
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	5			(2		)	3
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			3			3
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	72		$	(30	)	$	42
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(111	)	$	(36	)	$	(147	)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(141		)	—			(141		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			—
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	(252	)	$	(36	)	$	(288	)
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	The accumulated balances for each classification of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:
	(dollars in millions)	Net Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Defined Benefit Pension Plans			Total
	Balance at December 31, 2013	$	67		$	(31	)	$	36
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	5			(2		)	3
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			3			3
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	72		$	(30	)	$	42
	Balance at December 31, 2014	$	(111	)	$	(36	)	$	(147	)
	Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(141		)	—			(141		)
	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	—			—			—
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	(252	)	$	(36	)	$	(288	)

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation
Schedule of non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation	The following table summarizes non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in millions):
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Outperform Stock Options	$	2	$	2
	Restricted Stock Units	11		6
	Performance Restricted Stock Units	5		—
	401(k) Match Expense	13		7
	Restricted Stock Unit Bonus Grant	—		(5		)
		$	31	$	10

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]	The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA by segment and reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Adjusted EBITDA:
	North America	$	740		$	488
	EMEA	56			54
	Latin America	80			82
	Unallocated Corporate Expenses	(241		)	(166		)
	Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA	635			458
	Income Tax Expense	(5		)	(7		)
	Total Other Expense	(189		)	(145		)
	Depreciation and Amortization	(288		)	(184		)
	Non-Cash Stock Compensation Attributable to Stock Awards	(31		)	(10		)
	Total Consolidated Net Income	$	122		$	112
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	The following table presents capital expenditures by segment and reconciles capital expenditures to consolidated capital expenditures:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Capital Expenditures:
	North America	$	167		$	97
	EMEA	28			19
	Latin America	28			28
	Unallocated Corporate Capital Expenditures	31			19
	Consolidated Capital Expenditures	$	254		$	163
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	Segment Information
	Operating segments are defined under GAAP as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Company's chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. As a result of the integration of tw telecom (see Note 2 - Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom), the Company reorganized its management reporting structure to reflect the way in which it allocates resources and assesses performance. Effective the first quarter of 2015, tw telecom has been integrated into North America. As a result of the change, the Company's reportable segments now consist of 1) North America, 2) Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and 3) Latin America. Other separate business interests that are not segments include interest, certain corporate assets and overhead costs, and certain other general and administrative costs that are not allocated to any of the operating segments.
	The CODM measures and evaluates segment performance primarily based upon revenue, revenue growth and Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Company, is equal to net income (loss) from the Consolidated Statements of Operations before (1) income tax benefit (expense), (2) total other income (expense), (3) non-cash impairment charges included within selling, general and administrative expenses and network related expenses, (4) depreciation and amortization expense, and (5) non-cash stock-based compensation expense included within selling, general and administrative expenses and network related expenses.
	Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement under GAAP and may not be used in the same way by other companies. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is an important part of the Company's internal reporting and is a key measure used by management to evaluate profitability and operating performance of the Company and to make resource allocation decisions. Management believes such measurement is especially important in a capital-intensive industry such as telecommunications. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to compare the Company's performance to that of its competitors and to eliminate certain non-cash and non-operating items in order to consistently measure from period to period its ability to fund capital expenditures, fund growth, service debt and determine bonuses.
	Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash impairment charges and non-cash stock-based compensation expense because of the non-cash nature of these items. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes interest income, interest expense and income tax benefit (expense) because these items are associated with the Company's capitalization and tax structures. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization expense because these non-cash expenses reflect the effect of capital investments which management believes are better evaluated through cash flow measures. Adjusted EBITDA excludes net other income (expense) because these items are not related to the primary operations of the Company.
	There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, including the difficulty associated with comparing companies that use similar performance measures whose calculations may differ from the Company's calculations. Additionally, this financial measure does not include certain significant items such as interest income, interest expense, income tax benefit (expense), depreciation and amortization expense, non-cash impairment charges, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, and net other income (expense). Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.
	The following table presents revenue by segment:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Core Network Services Revenue:
	North America	$	1,535		$	1,043
	EMEA	207			225
	Latin America	185			189
	Total Core Network Services Revenue	1,927			1,457
	Wholesale Voice Services and Other Revenue:
	North America	118			145
	EMEA	4			5
	Latin America	4			2
	Total Wholesale Voice Services and Other Revenue	126			152
	Total Consolidated Revenue	$	2,053		$	1,609
	The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA by segment and reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Adjusted EBITDA:
	North America	$	740		$	488
	EMEA	56			54
	Latin America	80			82
	Unallocated Corporate Expenses	(241		)	(166		)
	Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA	635			458
	Income Tax Expense	(5		)	(7		)
	Total Other Expense	(189		)	(145		)
	Depreciation and Amortization	(288		)	(184		)
	Non-Cash Stock Compensation Attributable to Stock Awards	(31		)	(10		)
	Total Consolidated Net Income	$	122		$	112
	The following table presents capital expenditures by segment and reconciles capital expenditures to consolidated capital expenditures:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Capital Expenditures:
	North America	$	167		$	97
	EMEA	28			19
	Latin America	28			28
	Unallocated Corporate Capital Expenditures	31			19
	Consolidated Capital Expenditures	$	254		$	163
	The following table presents total consolidated assets by segment:
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Assets:
	North America	$	16,781		$	16,242
	EMEA	1,831			1,970
	Latin America	2,406			2,451
	Other	285			284
	Total Consolidated Assets	$	21,303		$	20,947
Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]	The following table presents revenue by segment:
		Three Months Ended
	(dollars in millions)	March 31, 2015			March 31, 2014
	Core Network Services Revenue:
	North America	$	1,535		$	1,043
	EMEA	207			225
	Latin America	185			189
	Total Core Network Services Revenue	1,927			1,457
	Wholesale Voice Services and Other Revenue:
	North America	118			145
	EMEA	4			5
	Latin America	4			2
	Total Wholesale Voice Services and Other Revenue	126			152
	Total Consolidated Revenue	$	2,053		$	1,609

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ1

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Abstract]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information	Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
	Level 3 Financing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has issued senior notes that are unsecured obligations of Level 3 Financing, Inc.; however, they are also fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Level 3 Communications, LLC.
	In conjunction with the registration of the senior notes, the accompanying condensed consolidating financial information has been prepared and presented pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 “Financial statements of guarantors and affiliates whose securities collateralize an issue registered or being registered.”
	The operating activities of the separate legal entities included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are interdependent. The accompanying condensed consolidating financial information presents the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of each legal entity and, on an aggregate basis, the other non-guarantor subsidiaries based on amounts incurred by such entities, and is not intended to present the operating results of those legal entities on a stand-alone basis. Level 3 Communications, LLC leases equipment and certain facilities from other wholly owned subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc. These transactions are eliminated in the consolidated results of the Company.
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	818		$	1,287		$	(52	)	$	2,053
	Costs and Expense:
	Network Access Costs	—			—			320			455			(52		)	723
	Network Related Expenses	—			—			230			126			—			356
	Depreciation and Amortization	—			—			74			214			—			288
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	1			—			247			122			—			370
	Total Costs and Expenses	1			—			871			917			(52		)	1,737
	Operating Income (Loss)	(1		)	—			(53		)	370			—			316
	Other Income (Expense):
	Interest Income	—			—			—			1			—			1
	Interest expense	(19		)	(155		)	(1		)	(5		)	—			(180		)
	Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	333			501			(766		)	(68		)	—			—
	Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(191		)	(536		)	177			—			550			—
	Other, net	—			—			2			(12		)	—			(10		)
	Total Other Income (Expense)	123			(190		)	(588		)	(84		)	550			(189		)
	Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	122			(190		)	(641		)	286			550			127
	Income Tax Expense	—			(1		)	—			(4		)	—			(5		)
	Net Income (Loss)	122			(191		)	(641		)	282			550			122
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	(141		)	—			—			(141		)	141			(141		)
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$	(19	)	$	(191	)	$	(641	)	$	141		$	691		$	(19	)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	737		$	931		$	(59	)	$	1,609
	Costs and Expense:
	Network Access Costs	—			—			290			383			(59		)	614
	Network Related Expenses	—			—			182			110			—			292
	Depreciation and Amortization	—			—			70			114			—			184
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	—			—			143			112			—			255
	Total Costs and Expenses	—			—			685			719			(59		)	1,345
	Operating Income	—			—			52			212			—			264
	Other Income (Expense):
	Interest expense	(34		)	(112		)	(1		)	(4		)	—			(151		)
	Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	288			459			(712		)	(35		)	—			—
	Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(142		)	(488		)	178			—			452			—
	Other, net	—			—			3			3			—			6
	Total Other Expense	112			(141		)	(532		)	(36		)	452			(145		)
	Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	112			(141		)	(480		)	176			452			119
	Income Tax Expense	—			(1		)	(1		)	(5		)	—			(7		)
	Net Income (Loss)	112			(142		)	(481		)	171			452			112
	Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Income Taxes	6			—			—			6			(6		)	6
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$	118		$	(142	)	$	(481	)	$	177		$	446		$	118
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Assets
	Current Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	14		$	5		$	841		$	254		$	—		$	1,114
	Restricted cash and securities	—			—			1			6			—			7
	Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	—			—			41			702			—			743
	Due from affiliates	14,987			22,125			—			—			(37,112		)	—
	Other	2			27			70			89			—			188
	Total Current Assets	15,003			22,157			953			1,051			(37,112		)	2,052
	Property, Plant, and Equipment, net	—			—			3,181			6,563			—			9,744
Restricted Cash and Securities	3			—			15			1			—			19
Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net	—			—			371			8,667			—			9,038
Investment in Subsidiaries	16,700			14,342			3,726			—			(34,768		)	—
Other Assets, net	25			126			9			290			—			450
Total Assets	$	31,731		$	36,625		$	8,255		$	16,572		$	(71,880	)	$	21,303
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	—		$	—		$	225		$	404		$	—		$	629
Current portion of long-term debt	—			494			3			13			—			510
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	—			—			135			42			—			177
Accrued interest	12			170			—			5			—			187
Current portion of deferred revenue	—			—			114			186			—			300
Due to affiliates	—			—			35,463			1,649			(37,112		)	—
Other	—			2			82			66			—			150
Total Current Liabilities	12			666			36,022			2,365			(37,112		)	1,953
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900			9,900			16			174			—			10,990
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	—			—			599			296			—			895
Other Liabilities	15			24			127			582			—			748
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	30,804			26,035			(28,509		)	13,155			(34,768		)	6,717
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$	31,731		$	36,625		$	8,255		$	16,572		$	(71,880	)	$	21,303
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
December 31, 2014
	Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
	(dollars in millions)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7		$	5		$	307		$	261		$	—		$	580
Restricted cash and securities	—			—			1			6			—			7
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	—			—			34			703			—			737
Due from affiliates	14,522			21,270			—			—			(35,792		)	—
Other	2			21			45			97			—			165
Total Current Assets	14,531			21,296			387			1,067			(35,792		)	1,489
Property, Plant, and Equipment, net	—			—			3,152			6,708			—			9,860
Restricted Cash and Securities	3			—			16			1			—			20
Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net	—			—			373			8,730			—			9,103
Investment in Subsidiaries	16,686			14,777			3,729			—			(35,192		)	—
Other Assets, net	28			129			9			309			—			475
Total Assets	$	31,248		$	36,202		$	7,666		$	16,815		$	(70,984	)	$	20,947
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	—		$	—		$	215		$	449		$	—		$	664
Current portion of long-term debt	333			—			3			13			—			349
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	—			—			174			99			—			273
Accrued interest	12			158			—			4			—			174
Current portion of deferred revenue	—			—			118			169			—			287
Due to affiliates	—			—			34,401			1,391			(35,792		)	—
Other	—			2			62			103			—			167
Total Current Liabilities	345			160			34,973			2,228			(35,792		)	1,914
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900			9,893			16			175			—			10,984
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	—			—			617			304			—			921
Other Liabilities	16			24			125			600			—			765
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	29,987			26,125			(28,065		)	13,508			(35,192		)	6,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$	31,248		$	36,202		$	7,666		$	16,815		$	(70,984	)	$	20,947
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
	Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
	(dollars in millions)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(7	)	$	(137	)	$	(82	)	$	531		$	—		$	305
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	—			—			(77		)	(177		)	—			(254		)
Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	—			—			1			—			—			1
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	—			—			—			1			—			1
Other	—			—			—			—			—			—
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	—			—			(76		)	(176		)	—			(252		)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	—			492			—			—			—			492
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	—			—			—			(2		)	—			(2		)
Increase (decrease) due from/to affiliates, net	14			(355		)	692			(351		)	—			—
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	14			137			692			(353		)	—			490
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			—			(9		)	—			(9		)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	7			—			534			(7		)	—			534
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	7			5			307			261			—			580
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	14		$	5		$	841		$	254		$	—		$	1,114
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
	(dollars in millions)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(16	)	$	(125	)	$	183		$	99		$	—		$	141
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	—			—			(74		)	(89		)	—			(163		)
Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	—			—			—			1			—			1
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	—			—			—			1			—			1
Other	—			—			—			(1		)	—			(1		)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	—			—			(74		)	(88		)	—			(162		)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	—			—			—			—			—			—
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	—			—			—			(3		)	—			(3		)
Increase (decrease) due from/to affiliates, net	16			125			(100		)	(41		)	—			—
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	16			125			(100		)	(44		)	—			(3		)
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			—			—			—			—
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			9			(33		)	—			(24		)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	8			6			347			270			—			631
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	8		$	6		$	356		$	237		$	—		$	607
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	818		$	1,287		$	(52	)	$	2,053
	Costs and Expense:
	Network Access Costs	—			—			320			455			(52		)	723
	Network Related Expenses	—			—			230			126			—			356
	Depreciation and Amortization	—			—			74			214			—			288
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	1			—			247			122			—			370
	Total Costs and Expenses	1			—			871			917			(52		)	1,737
	Operating Income (Loss)	(1		)	—			(53		)	370			—			316
	Other Income (Expense):
	Interest Income	—			—			—			1			—			1
	Interest expense	(19		)	(155		)	(1		)	(5		)	—			(180		)
	Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	333			501			(766		)	(68		)	—			—
	Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(191		)	(536		)	177			—			550			—
	Other, net	—			—			2			(12		)	—			(10		)
	Total Other Income (Expense)	123			(190		)	(588		)	(84		)	550			(189		)
	Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	122			(190		)	(641		)	286			550			127
	Income Tax Expense	—			(1		)	—			(4		)	—			(5		)
	Net Income (Loss)	122			(191		)	(641		)	282			550			122
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	(141		)	—			—			(141		)	141			(141		)
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$	(19	)	$	(191	)	$	(641	)	$	141		$	691		$	(19	)
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Revenue	$	—		$	—		$	737		$	931		$	(59	)	$	1,609
	Costs and Expense:
	Network Access Costs	—			—			290			383			(59		)	614
	Network Related Expenses	—			—			182			110			—			292
	Depreciation and Amortization	—			—			70			114			—			184
	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	—			—			143			112			—			255
	Total Costs and Expenses	—			—			685			719			(59		)	1,345
	Operating Income	—			—			52			212			—			264
	Other Income (Expense):
	Interest expense	(34		)	(112		)	(1		)	(4		)	—			(151		)
	Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	288			459			(712		)	(35		)	—			—
	Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(142		)	(488		)	178			—			452			—
	Other, net	—			—			3			3			—			6
	Total Other Expense	112			(141		)	(532		)	(36		)	452			(145		)
	Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	112			(141		)	(480		)	176			452			119
	Income Tax Expense	—			(1		)	(1		)	(5		)	—			(7		)
	Net Income (Loss)	112			(142		)	(481		)	171			452			112
	Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Income Taxes	6			—			—			6			(6		)	6
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$	118		$	(142	)	$	(481	)	$	177		$	446		$	118
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Assets
	Current Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	14		$	5		$	841		$	254		$	—		$	1,114
	Restricted cash and securities	—			—			1			6			—			7
	Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	—			—			41			702			—			743
	Due from affiliates	14,987			22,125			—			—			(37,112		)	—
	Other	2			27			70			89			—			188
	Total Current Assets	15,003			22,157			953			1,051			(37,112		)	2,052
	Property, Plant, and Equipment, net	—			—			3,181			6,563			—			9,744
	Restricted Cash and Securities	3			—			15			1			—			19
	Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net	—			—			371			8,667			—			9,038
	Investment in Subsidiaries	16,700			14,342			3,726			—			(34,768		)	—
	Other Assets, net	25			126			9			290			—			450
	Total Assets	$	31,731		$	36,625		$	8,255		$	16,572		$	(71,880	)	$	21,303
	Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
	Current Liabilities:
	Accounts payable	$	—		$	—		$	225		$	404		$	—		$	629
	Current portion of long-term debt	—			494			3			13			—			510
	Accrued payroll and employee benefits	—			—			135			42			—			177
	Accrued interest	12			170			—			5			—			187
	Current portion of deferred revenue	—			—			114			186			—			300
	Due to affiliates	—			—			35,463			1,649			(37,112		)	—
	Other	—			2			82			66			—			150
	Total Current Liabilities	12			666			36,022			2,365			(37,112		)	1,953
	Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900			9,900			16			174			—			10,990
	Deferred Revenue, less current portion	—			—			599			296			—			895
	Other Liabilities	15			24			127			582			—			748
	Commitments and Contingencies
	Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	30,804			26,035			(28,509		)	13,155			(34,768		)	6,717
	Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$	31,731		$	36,625		$	8,255		$	16,572		$	(71,880	)	$	21,303
	Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets
	December 31, 2014
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Assets
	Current Assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	7		$	5		$	307		$	261		$	—		$	580
	Restricted cash and securities	—			—			1			6			—			7
	Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	—			—			34			703			—			737
	Due from affiliates	14,522			21,270			—			—			(35,792		)	—
	Other	2			21			45			97			—			165
	Total Current Assets	14,531			21,296			387			1,067			(35,792		)	1,489
	Property, Plant, and Equipment, net	—			—			3,152			6,708			—			9,860
	Restricted Cash and Securities	3			—			16			1			—			20
	Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net	—			—			373			8,730			—			9,103
	Investment in Subsidiaries	16,686			14,777			3,729			—			(35,192		)	—
	Other Assets, net	28			129			9			309			—			475
	Total Assets	$	31,248		$	36,202		$	7,666		$	16,815		$	(70,984	)	$	20,947
	Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
	Current Liabilities:
	Accounts payable	$	—		$	—		$	215		$	449		$	—		$	664
	Current portion of long-term debt	333			—			3			13			—			349
	Accrued payroll and employee benefits	—			—			174			99			—			273
	Accrued interest	12			158			—			4			—			174
	Current portion of deferred revenue	—			—			118			169			—			287
	Due to affiliates	—			—			34,401			1,391			(35,792		)	—
	Other	—			2			62			103			—			167
	Total Current Liabilities	345			160			34,973			2,228			(35,792		)	1,914
	Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900			9,893			16			175			—			10,984
	Deferred Revenue, less current portion	—			—			617			304			—			921
Other Liabilities	16			24			125			600			—			765
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	29,987			26,125			(28,065		)	13,508			(35,192		)	6,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	$	31,248		$	36,202		$	7,666		$	16,815		$	(70,984	)	$	20,947
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(7	)	$	(137	)	$	(82	)	$	531		$	—		$	305
	Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
	Capital Expenditures	—			—			(77		)	(177		)	—			(254		)
	Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	—			—			1			—			—			1
	Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	—			—			—			1			—			1
	Other	—			—			—			—			—			—
	Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	—			—			(76		)	(176		)	—			(252		)
	Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
	Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	—			492			—			—			—			492
	Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	—			—			—			(2		)	—			(2		)
	Increase (decrease) due from/to affiliates, net	14			(355		)	692			(351		)	—			—
	Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	14			137			692			(353		)	—			490
	Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			—			(9		)	—			(9		)
	Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	7			—			534			(7		)	—			534
	Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	7			5			307			261			—			580
	Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	14		$	5		$	841		$	254		$	—		$	1,114
	Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Level 3 Communications, Inc.			Level 3 Financing, Inc.			Level 3 Communications, LLC			Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Total
		(dollars in millions)
	Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$	(16	)	$	(125	)	$	183		$	99		$	—		$	141
	Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
	Capital Expenditures	—			—			(74		)	(89		)	—			(163		)
	Decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	—			—			—			1			—			1
	Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	—			—			—			1			—			1
	Other	—			—			—			(1		)	—			(1		)
	Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	—			—			(74		)	(88		)	—			(162		)
	Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
	Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	—			—			—			—			—			—
	Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portion and refinancing costs	—			—			—			(3		)	—			(3		)
	Increase (decrease) due from/to affiliates, net	16			125			(100		)	(41		)	—			—
	Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	16			125			(100		)	(44		)	—			(3		)
	Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			—			—			—			—
	Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	—			—			9			(33		)	—			(24		)
	Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	8			6			347			270			—			631
	Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	8		$	6		$	356		$	237		$	—		$	607

Events_Associated_with_the_Mer1

Events Associated with the Merger of tw telecom (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash				$309,000,000
Total Revenue	2,003,000,000
Net Income	102,000,000
Net Income per Share, Basic	$0.31
Net Income per Share, Diluted	$0.30
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition		31-Oct-14
business acquisition, cash consideration per share	10
Purchase price allocation adjustment	60,000,000
Long-term Debt				-2,099,000,000
Stock consideration per share	0.7
Business Combination, Integration Related Costs			86,000,000
Property, Plant, and Equipment				1,556,000,000
Goodwill				5,180,000,000
Identifiable Intangible Assets				1,263,000,000
Other Assets				141,000,000
total Assets				8,449,000,000
Deferred Revenue				-60,000,000
Other Liabilities				-279,000,000
Total Liabilities				-2,438,000,000
Total Consideration to be Allocated				$6,011,000,000

Earnings_Per_Share_Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) (Convertible Senior Notes)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Convertible Senior Notes
Earnings per share
Securities not included in computation of diluted loss per share (in millions of shares)	18

Earnings_Per_Share_Dilutive_Se

Earnings Per Share Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings per Share (Details) (Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units And Warrants [Member])	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units And Warrants [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Stock Awards Included in Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4	5

Acquired_Intangible_Assets_Det

Acquired Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross Carrying Amount	$2,260		$2,320
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-977		-921
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	1,283		1,399
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset amortization expense	56	19
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Total identifiable acquisition-related intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount	2,275		2,335
Total identifiable acquisition-related intangible assets, Net	1,298		1,414
Estimated amortization expense of finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets
2013 (remaining three months)	171
2014	212
2015	196
2016	193
2017	181
2018	166
Thereafter	164
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	1,283		1,399
Vyvx Trade Name
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	15		15
Customer Contracts And Relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross Carrying Amount	1,975		1,977
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-789		-741
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	1,186		1,236
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets weighted average remaining useful lives (in years)	6 years 7 months 6 days
Estimated amortization expense of finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	1,186		1,236
Trademarks
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross Carrying Amount	55		115
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-48		-47
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	7		68
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets weighted average remaining useful lives (in years)	6 months
Estimated amortization expense of finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	7		68
Patents and Developed Technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets:
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross Carrying Amount	230		228
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-140		-133
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	90		95
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets weighted average remaining useful lives (in years)	3 years 9 months 18 days
Estimated amortization expense of finite-lived acquisition-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$90		$95

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Liabilities, Recurring (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Total Carrying Value in Consolidated Balance Sheet
Long-term Debt, including the current portion:
Term Loans	$4,591	$4,590
Senior Notes	6,703	6,203
Convertible Notes	0	333
Capital Leases and Other	206	207
Total Long-term Debt, including the current portion:	11,500	11,333
Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1)
Long-term Debt, including the current portion:
Term Loans	4,633	4,593
Senior Notes	7,022	6,481
Convertible Notes	0	0
Capital Leases and Other	0	0
Total Long-term Debt, including the current portion:	11,655	11,074
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Long-term Debt, including the current portion:
Term Loans	0	0
Senior Notes	0	0
Convertible Notes	0	868
Capital Leases and Other	206	207
Total Long-term Debt, including the current portion:	$206	$1,075

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru3

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Liabilities, Additional Information (Details) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1), USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Unadjusted Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities (Level 1)
Liabilities measured on a recurring basis
Term Loans	$4,633	$4,593
Senior Notes	7,022	6,481
Convertible Notes	0	0
Fair value of long-term debt	$11,655	$11,074

LongTerm_Debt_Schedule_of_Long

Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Long Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	$11,532,000,000		$11,366,000,000
Total Unamortized Discount	-32,000,000		-33,000,000
Carrying Value of Debt	11,500,000,000		11,333,000,000
Current portion of long-term debt	-510,000,000		-349,000,000
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	10,990,000,000		10,984,000,000
Senior Secured Term Loan
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	4,611,000,000	[1]	4,611,000,000	[1]
Total Unamortized Discount	-20,000,000		-21,000,000
Tranche B-III 2019 Term Loan
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	815,000,000
Tranche B 2020 Term Loan
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.00%
Total Debt Obligations	1,796,000,000
Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2018 [Member]
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	3.83%		3.83%
Total Debt Obligations	300,000,000		300,000,000
9.375% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	500,000,000		500,000,000
Total Unamortized Discount	-6,000,000		-6,000,000
8.125% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	1,200,000,000		1,200,000,000
Total Unamortized Discount	-6,000,000		-6,000,000
8.875% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	300,000,000		300,000,000
8.625% Senior Notes due 2020
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	900,000,000		900,000,000
7.0% Senior Notes due 2020
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	775,000,000		775,000,000
SeniorNotes6Point125PercentDue2021 [Member]
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	640,000,000		640,000,000
5.37percent Senior Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Senior Notes 5point75Percent Due 2022 [Member]
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	600,000,000		600,000,000
7.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	0		58,000,000
7.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 Series B
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	0		275,000,000
Capital Leases
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	$206,000,000		$207,000,000
[1]	* The $2 billion Tranche B Term Loan due 2022 had an interest rate of 4.5% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The $815 million Tranche B-III 2019 Term Loan due 2019 and the $1.796 billion Tranche B 2020 Term Loan due 2020 each had an interest rate of 4.0% as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

LongTerm_Debt_Textuals_Details

Long-Term Debt - Textuals (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 02, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Jan. 29, 2015	Mar. 04, 2011	6-May-15	Apr. 28, 2015
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	$11,532,000,000		$11,366,000,000
2015 (remaining nine months)	515,000,000
2016	8,000,000
2017	8,000,000
2018	308,000,000
2019	2,323,000,000
2020	3,478,000,000
Thereafter	4,892,000,000
TrancheB2022TermLoanTotal [Member] | Level 3 Financing, Inc.
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				2,000,000,000
Tranche B 2022 Term Loans [Member]
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)			4.50%
Tranche B 2020 Term Loan
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	4.00%
Total Debt Obligations	1,796,000,000
Tranche B-III 2019 Term Loan
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	815,000,000
8.875% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	300,000,000		300,000,000
7.0% Senior Notes due 2020
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	775,000,000		775,000,000
Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing, Inc.
Long-term debt
Debt Issuance Cost	9,000,000
Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	5.63%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					500,000,000
9.375% Senior Notes due 2019
Long-term debt
Total Debt Obligations	500,000,000		500,000,000
9.375% Senior Notes due 2019 | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	9.38%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						500,000,000
7.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015
Long-term debt
Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount	333,000,000
Total Debt Obligations	0		58,000,000
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued	12,000,000
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted	37
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount	1,000
7.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 | Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	7.00%
Subsequent Event [Member] | TrancheB2022TermLoanTotal [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							2,000,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | 8.875% Senior Notes due 2019 | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Stated interest rate (as a percent)								8.88%
Debt Instrument, Face Amount								300,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019 | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount		104.69%
Prior to February 1, 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument, Redemption Period Notice Minimum Number of Days	30
Debt Instrument Redemption Period Notice Maximum Number of Days	60
Debt Instrument Redemption Period Maximum Following Receipt of Proceeds from Equity Offerings	90
Twelve Months Beginning February 1, 2020 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	100.00%
Twelve Months Beginning February 1, 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	102.81%
Twelve Months Beginning February 1, 2019 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	101.41%
Prior to February 1, 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Minimum Gross Proceeds from Private or Public Offering	$100,000,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage	100.00%
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	105.63%
Prior to February 1, 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	40.00%
Prior to February 1, 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Level 3 Financing [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Long-term debt
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	60.00%

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	($288)	$42	($147)	$36
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-141	3
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	3
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-252	72	-111	67
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	-141	5
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-36	-30	-36	-31
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	0	-2
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	$0	$3

StockBased_Compensation_Noncas

Stock-Based Compensation - Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation
Nonvested restricted stock and restricted stock units (RSUs)	4
OSOs outstanding	1
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation	$31	$10
Outperform Stock Options
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	2	2
Restricted Stock Units and Shares
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	11	6
Performance Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	5	0
401(k) Match Expense
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	13	7
Restricted Stock Unit Bonus Grant
Non-cash compensation expense and capitalized non-cash compensation
Stock-based compensation expense	$0	($5)

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$21,303		$20,947
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	254	163
Adjusted EBITDA by Segment	635	458
Revenue	2,053	1,609
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	-5	-7
Other Income	-189	-145
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	-288	-184
Share-based Compensation	-31	-10
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	122	112
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	285		284
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	31	19
Adjusted EBITDA by Segment	-241	-166
North America [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	16,781		16,242
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	167	97
Adjusted EBITDA by Segment	740	488
Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,831		1,970
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	28	19
Adjusted EBITDA by Segment	56	54
Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	2,406		2,451
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	28	28
Adjusted EBITDA by Segment	80	82
Core Network Service [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	1,927	1,457
Core Network Service [Member] | North America [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	1,535	1,043
Core Network Service [Member] | Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	207	225
Core Network Service [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	185	189
Wholesale Voice Services and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	126	152
Wholesale Voice Services and Other [Member] | North America [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	118	145
Wholesale Voice Services and Other [Member] | Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	4	5
Wholesale Voice Services and Other [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue	$4	$2

Commitments_Contingencies_and_1

Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items - Lawsuits (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Loss Contingencies
Estimated Litigation Liability		$163
Peruvian Tax Litigation | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim		53
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)	28
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Before Interest | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim		26
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Income Tax witholding 2001 and 2002 | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim		3
Peruvian Tax Litigation, VAT for 2001 and 2002 | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim		7
Peruvian Tax Litigation, Disallowance of VAT in 2005 | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim		16
Employee Severance and Contractor Termination Disputes | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Asserted Claim		44
up to | Brazilian Tax Claims | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Portion Not Accrued		48
Brazilian Tax Reserve Release [Member] | Brazilian Tax Claims | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies
Loss Contingency Accrual, Period Increase (Decrease)		6	3
Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments			$5

Commitments_Contingencies_and_2

Commitments, Contingencies and Other Items - Other Commitments (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Amount outstanding under letters of credit or other similar obligations	$25	$28
Collateralized by cash, that is reflected on the consolidated balance sheets as restricted cash	$22	$23

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ2

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	$2,053	$1,609
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	723	614
Network Related Expenses	356	292
Depreciation and Amortization	288	184
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	370	255
Total Costs and Expenses	1,737	1,345
Operating Income (Loss)	316	264
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	1	0
Interest expense	-180	-151
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	0	0
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0
Other, net	-10	6
Total Other Expense	-189	-145
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	127	119
Income Tax Expense	-5	-7
Net Income (Loss)	122	112
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	-141	6
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-19	118
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	0	0
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	0	0
Network Related Expenses	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	1	0
Total Costs and Expenses	1	0
Operating Income (Loss)	-1	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	0
Interest expense	-19	-34
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	333	288
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	-191	-142
Other, net	0	0
Total Other Expense	123	112
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	122	112
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income (Loss)	122	112
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	-141	6
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-19	118
Level 3 Financing, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	0	0
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	0	0
Network Related Expenses	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	0
Interest expense	-155	-112
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	501	459
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	-536	-488
Other, net	0	0
Total Other Expense	-190	-141
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	-190	-141
Income Tax Expense	-1	-1
Net Income (Loss)	-191	-142
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-191	-142
Level 3 Communications, LLC
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	818	737
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	320	290
Network Related Expenses	230	182
Depreciation and Amortization	74	70
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	247	143
Total Costs and Expenses	871	685
Operating Income (Loss)	-53	52
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	0
Interest expense	-1	-1
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	-766	-712
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	177	178
Other, net	2	3
Total Other Expense	-588	-532
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	-641	-480
Income Tax Expense	0	-1
Net Income (Loss)	-641	-481
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-641	-481
Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	1,287	931
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	455	383
Network Related Expenses	126	110
Depreciation and Amortization	214	114
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	122	112
Total Costs and Expenses	917	719
Operating Income (Loss)	370	212
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	1
Interest expense	-5	-4
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	-68	-35
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	0	0
Other, net	-12	3
Total Other Expense	-84	-36
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	286	176
Income Tax Expense	-4	-5
Net Income (Loss)	282	171
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	-141	6
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	141	177
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Revenue	-52	-59
Costs and Expenses:
Network Access Costs	-52	-59
Network Related Expenses	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	-52	-59
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Income	0
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income (expense) affiliates, net	0	0
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	550	452
Other, net	0	0
Total Other Expense	550	452
Income (Loss) before Income Taxes	550	452
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income (Loss)	550	452
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Income Taxes	141	-6
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$691	$446

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ3

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$1,114	$580	$607	$631
Restricted cash and securities	7	7
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	743	737
Due from affiliates	0	0
Other	188	165
Total Current Assets	2,052	1,489
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	9,744	9,860
Restricted Cash and Securities	19	20
Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets, net	9,038	9,103
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other Assets, net	450	475
Total Assets	21,303	20,947
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	629	664
Current portion of long-term debt	510	349
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	177	273
Accrued interest	187	174
Current portion of deferred revenue	300	287
Due to affiliates	0	0
Other	150	167
Total Current Liabilities	1,953	1,914
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	10,990	10,984
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	895	921
Other Liabilities	748	765
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	6,717	6,363
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	21,303	20,947
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	14	7	8	8
Restricted cash and securities	0	0
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	0	0
Due from affiliates	14,987	14,522
Other	2	2
Total Current Assets	15,003	14,531
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	0	0
Restricted Cash and Securities	3	3
Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets, net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	16,700	16,686
Other Assets, net	25	28
Total Assets	31,731	31,248
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	333
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	0	0
Accrued interest	12	12
Current portion of deferred revenue	0	0
Due to affiliates	0	0
Other	0	0
Total Current Liabilities	12	345
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	900	900
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	0	0
Other Liabilities	15	16
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	30,804	29,987
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	31,731	31,248
Level 3 Financing, Inc.
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	5	5	6	6
Restricted cash and securities	0	0
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	0	0
Due from affiliates	22,125	21,270
Other	27	21
Total Current Assets	22,157	21,296
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	0	0
Restricted Cash and Securities	0	0
Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets, net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	14,342	14,777
Other Assets, net	126	129
Total Assets	36,625	36,202
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	494	0
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	0	0
Accrued interest	170	158
Current portion of deferred revenue	0	0
Due to affiliates	0	0
Other	2	2
Total Current Liabilities	666	160
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	9,900	9,893
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	0	0
Other Liabilities	24	24
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	26,035	26,125
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	36,625	36,202
Level 3 Communications, LLC
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	841	307	356	347
Restricted cash and securities	1	1
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	41	34
Due from affiliates	0	0
Other	70	45
Total Current Assets	953	387
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	3,181	3,152
Restricted Cash and Securities	15	16
Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets, net	371	373
Investment in Subsidiaries	3,726	3,729
Other Assets, net	9	9
Total Assets	8,255	7,666
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	225	215
Current portion of long-term debt	3	3
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	135	174
Accrued interest	0	0
Current portion of deferred revenue	114	118
Due to affiliates	35,463	34,401
Other	82	62
Total Current Liabilities	36,022	34,973
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	16	16
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	599	617
Other Liabilities	127	125
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	-28,509	-28,065
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	8,255	7,666
Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	254	261	237	270
Restricted cash and securities	6	6
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	702	703
Due from affiliates	0	0
Other	89	97
Total Current Assets	1,051	1,067
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	6,563	6,708
Restricted Cash and Securities	1	1
Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets, net	8,667	8,730
Investment in Subsidiaries	0	0
Other Assets, net	290	309
Total Assets	16,572	16,815
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	404	449
Current portion of long-term debt	13	13
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	42	99
Accrued interest	5	4
Current portion of deferred revenue	186	169
Due to affiliates	1,649	1,391
Other	66	103
Total Current Liabilities	2,365	2,228
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	174	175
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	296	304
Other Liabilities	582	600
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	13,155	13,508
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	16,572	16,815
Eliminations
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash and securities	0	0
Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts	0	0
Due from affiliates	-37,112	-35,792
Other	0	0
Total Current Assets	-37,112	-35,792
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	0	0
Restricted Cash and Securities	0	0
Goodwill and Other Intangibles Assets, net	0	0
Investment in Subsidiaries	-34,768	-35,192
Other Assets, net	0	0
Total Assets	-71,880	-70,984
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Accounts payable	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	0	0
Accrued interest	0	0
Current portion of deferred revenue	0	0
Due to affiliates	-37,112	-35,792
Other	0	0
Total Current Liabilities	-37,112	-35,792
Long-Term Debt, less current portion	0	0
Deferred Revenue, less current portion	0	0
Other Liabilities	0	0
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)	-34,768	-35,192
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)	($71,880)	($70,984)

Condensed_Consolidating_Financ4

Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	$305	$141
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	-254	-163
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	1	1
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	1	1
Other	0	1
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	-252	-162
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	492	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portions and refinancing costs	-2	-3
Increase (decrease) due from-to affiliates, net	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	490	-3
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	-9	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	534	-24
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	580	631
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	1,114	607
Level 3 Communications, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	-7	-16
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	0	0
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	0	0
Other	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	0	0
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	0	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portions and refinancing costs	0	0
Increase (decrease) due from-to affiliates, net	14	16
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	14	16
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	7	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	7	8
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	14	8
Level 3 Financing, Inc.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	-137	-125
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	0	0
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	0	0
Other	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	0	0
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	492	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portions and refinancing costs	0	0
Increase (decrease) due from-to affiliates, net	-355	125
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	137	125
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	5	6
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	5	6
Level 3 Communications, LLC
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	-82	183
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	-77	-74
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	1	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	0	0
Other	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	-76	-74
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	0	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portions and refinancing costs	0	0
Increase (decrease) due from-to affiliates, net	692	-100
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	692	-100
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	534	9
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	307	347
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	841	356
Other Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	531	99
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	-177	-89
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	0	1
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	1	1
Other	0	1
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	-176	-88
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	0	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portions and refinancing costs	-2	-3
Increase (decrease) due from-to affiliates, net	-351	-41
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	-353	-44
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	-9	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	-7	-33
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	261	270
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	254	237
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	0	0
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	0	0
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash and securities, net	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment and other assets	0	0
Other	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	0	0
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs	0	0
Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, including current portions and refinancing costs	0	0
Increase (decrease) due from-to affiliates, net	0	0
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	0	0
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$0	$0

Subsequent_Events_Subsequent_E

Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Details) (Level 3 Financing [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 04, 2011	Apr. 28, 2015	Jan. 29, 2015	6-May-15
9.375% Senior Notes due 2019
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			9.38%
9.375% Senior Notes due 2019 | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument Redemption Price as Percentage of Principal Amount	104.69%
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		36,000,000
Senior Notes 5.125 Percent Due 2023 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					700,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					5.13%
Senior Notes 5.375 Percent Due 2025 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					800,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					5.38%
Senior Notes 5point 625Percent Due 2023 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			5.63%
8.125% Senior Notes due 2019
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			8.13%
8.125% Senior Notes due 2019 | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					1,200,000,000
8.875% Senior Notes due 2019 | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					300,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage					8.88%
Senior Notes 8.875 percent due 2019 and 8.125 percent due 2019 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		100,000,000
TrancheB2022TermLoanTotal [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							2,000,000,000
2.0 Billion Tranche B-II 2022 Term Loan [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							2,000,000,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		$27,000,000
Upfront basis point		25
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | 2.0 Billion Tranche B-II 2022 Term Loan [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Description of Variable Rate Basis		LIBOR
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.75%
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum		0.75%