| **Software Impairment**                                                         | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
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| **Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Disposal Disclosures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| Software Impairment                                                             | Software ImpairmentDuring the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we internally developed computer software in our Wireline segment to replace our wireless, Internet, video, local service, and long distance customer billing systems.  During the first quarter of 2015, we completed a detailed assessment of our progress to date and determined it was no longer probable that the computer software being developed would be completed and placed in service.  Our assessment concluded that the cost of continuing the development would be much higher than originally estimated, and the timing and scope risks were substantial. We identified development work, hardware, and software recorded as Construction in Progress through September 30, 2015, that may be applicable to our replacement customer billing solution, future internally developed software, and other system needs and therefore should remain capital assets.  We considered the remaining capital expenditures for this billing system to have a fair value of $0 and recorded an impairment charge of $20.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 by recording an expense which is included in Software Impairment Charge in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.  During the first quarter of 2015, we reassessed our plans for our internally developed machine-to-machine billing system in our Wireline segment, and decided to no longer market this system to third parties.  Accordingly we recognized an impairment charge of $0.5 million and$7.1 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 by recording an expense which is included in Software Impairment Charge in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.During the third quarter of 2015, we evaluated user management software we purchased in 2014 anddetermined that we would not be able to use the software. Accordingly we recognized an impairment of $1.0 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 by recording an expense which is includedin Software Impairment Charge in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure related to a disposal group. Includes, but is not limited to, a discontinued operation, disposal classified as held-for-sale or disposed of by means other than sale or disposal of an individually significant component.
+ References
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