v2.4.1.9
Summary of Plant Property and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Land 763us-gaap_Land $ 819us-gaap_Land
Buildings and equipment 25,209us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross 23,857us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross
Central office and other network equipment 129,619us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentGross 121,594us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentGross
Cable, poles and conduit 54,797us-gaap_FixturesAndEquipmentGross 55,240us-gaap_FixturesAndEquipmentGross
Leasehold improvements 6,374us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsGross 5,877us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsGross
Work in progress 4,580us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross 4,176us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressGross
Furniture, vehicles and other 9,166us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther 9,302us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOther
Plant, property and equipment 230,508us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross 220,865us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
Less accumulated depreciation 140,561us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment 131,909us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Total 89,947us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet $ 88,956us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Buildings and Equipment | Minimum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 15 years  
Buildings and Equipment | Maximum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 45 years  
Central Office and Other Network Equipment | Minimum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 3 years  
Central Office and Other Network Equipment | Maximum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 15 years  
Cable Poles and Conduit | Minimum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 11 years  
Cable Poles and Conduit | Maximum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 50 years  
Leasehold Improvements | Minimum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 5 years  
Leasehold Improvements | Maximum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 20 years  
Furniture Vehicles and Other | Minimum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 3 years  
Furniture Vehicles and Other | Maximum    
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]    
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life (years) 20 years