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v3.3.1.900

Employee Benefits (Details) $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Oct. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Employee | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Collective bargaining arrangement, number of participating unionized employees | Employee |  | 11,000 |  |
Collective bargaining arrangement, number of participating active employees and retirees | Employee |  | 11,000 |  |
Collective bargaining agreements term | 4 years |  |  |
Qwest Communications International, Inc. |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Description of related party transaction |  | In 2015, we agreed to a plan to settle the outstanding affiliate obligations, net balance with QCII over a 30 year term. Payments will be made on a monthly basis. |  |
Repayments on affiliate obligation |  | $ 105 |  |
Allocated expenses by parent entities (as a percent) |  |  | 92.00% | 91.00%
CenturyLink, Inc. |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Allocated expenses by parent entities (as a percent) |  | 69.00% |  |
Pension Plan |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Net periodic benefit cost |  | $ 57 | $ (98) | $ (178)
Pension Plan | CenturyLink, Inc. |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Employer contributions to benefit plan |  | 100 |  |
Unfunded status |  | (2,207) | (2,402) |
Post-Retirement Benefit Plan |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Net periodic benefit cost |  | 17 | 128 | $ 88
Post-Retirement Benefit Plan | CenturyLink, Inc. |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Employer contributions to benefit plan |  | 0 |  |
Unfunded status |  | $ (3,374) | $ (3,477) |
Pension, Supplemental and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | Qwest Communications International, Inc. |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Description of related party transaction |  | In 2015, we agreed to a plan to settle the outstanding pension and post-retirement affiliate obligations, net balance with QCII over a 30 year term. Payments will be made on a monthly basis. |  |
Repayments on affiliate obligation |  | $ 105 |  |
Change in accounting method accounted for as change in estimate | Pension, Supplemental and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans |  |  |  |
Employee Benefits |  |  |  |
Decrease in defined benefit plans net periodic benefit cost (financial effect) |  | The change in methodology resulted in a decrease of $7 million to our net periodic benefit cost for the year ended December 31, 2015 |  |
Net periodic benefit cost |  | $ (7) |  |

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