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Revenue Recognition - Capitalized Contract Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2018
Contract Acquisition Costs |  |  |  |
Capitalized Contract Cost [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning of period balance | $ 321 | $ 287 | $ 322 | $ 268
Costs incurred | 48 | 53 | 148 | 152
Amortization | (50) | (44) | (151) | (124)
End of period balance | 319 | 296 | 319 | 296
Contract Fulfillment Costs |  |  |  |
Capitalized Contract Cost [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Beginning of period balance | 207 | 161 | 187 | 133
Costs incurred | 41 | 46 | 119 | 104
Amortization | (32) | (34) | (90) | (64)
End of period balance | $ 216 | $ 173 | $ 216 | $ 173

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- Definition Capitalized Contract Cost, Incurred + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ctl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Capitalized Contract Cost [Roll Forward] + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | ctl_
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- Definition Amount of amortization expense for asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment loss, of asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 340 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054 + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Details
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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |