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Wireless Licenses, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Assets held for sale		$ 149	$ 882
Acquisitions (Note 2)		420
XO Holdings
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisitions (Note 2)	$ 400
Other intangible assets	$ 300
Wireline
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisitions (Note 2)		418
Wireline \| XO Holdings
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisitions (Note 2)		400
Wireline \| XO Holdings \| Customer Lists
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets		300
Wireless Licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisitions		76
Assets held for sale		100
Wireless licenses under development		$ 10,000
Average remaining renewal period of wireless license portfolio (in years)		5 years 3 months 18 days
Advanced Wireless Services Spectrum Licenses
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquisitions		$ 1,000