v3.19.3.a.u2
Revenue Recognition (Revenue Categories) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
 [1],[2]
Sep. 30, 2019
 [1]
Jun. 30, 2019
 [1]
Mar. 31, 2019
 [1]
Dec. 31, 2018
 [1]
Sep. 30, 2018
 [1]
Jun. 30, 2018
 [1]
Mar. 31, 2018
 [1]
Sep. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
Mar. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues $ 46,821 $ 44,588 $ 44,957 $ 44,827 $ 47,993 $ 45,739 $ 38,986 $ 38,038 $ 45,739 $ 38,986 $ 38,038 $ 181,193 $ 170,756 $ 160,546
Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       57,452 56,401  
Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       21,380 20,253  
Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       11,908 13,751  
Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       48,392 44,075  
Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       10,631 6,541  
Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       6,989 4,433  
Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       6,747 6,891  
Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       17,694 18,411  
Corporate and Other [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       1,603 2,101  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       549 638  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       51 52  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       155 36  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                         0  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                         0  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       678 1,190  
Corporate and Other [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       170 185  
Operating Segments [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       184,843 172,054 159,529
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       142,359 143,721 149,457
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       71,056 70,521 70,259
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       55,040 54,062  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       291 232  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       15,725 16,227  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       45,126 46,460 49,995
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       8,403 7,956  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       2,573 3,041  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       30,438 31,762  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       1,672 1,595  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       2,032 2,097  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       8 9  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       26,177 26,740 29,203
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       12,926 12,245  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       9,180 10,674  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       3,286 2,998  
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       785 823  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       33,499 18,941 430
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       13,122 6,979 430
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       7,736 4,207  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       481 295  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       4,566 2,330  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       339 147  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       6,749 3,598 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       5,814 3,201  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       925 391  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       10 6  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       14,358 8,703 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       88 47  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       13,532 8,216  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       41 53  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       697 387  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       (730) (339)  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       222 74  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       (1,058) (518)  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       69 78  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       37 27  
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       6,963 7,652 8,269
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       4,094 4,784 5,456
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       4,094 4,784  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       2,869 2,868 2,813
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       1,863 1,701  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       1,006 1,167  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       2,022 1,740 1,373
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       2,022 1,740  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Operating Segments [Member] | Xandr [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       (5,253) (3,399) $ (1,183)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Wireless service                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Advanced Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Subscription                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       0 0  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Content                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       (3,249) (1,843)  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Advertising                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       (1,672) (1,595)  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Other                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       (332) 39  
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Equipment                            
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]                            
Total operating revenues                       $ 0 $ 0  
[1] Includes actuarial gains and losses on pension and postretirement benefit plans (Note 15).
[2] Includes an asset abandonment charge (Note 7).