Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Lease and Transponder Service Agreements (Details)

v3.19.1
Lease and Transponder Service Agreements (Details)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
USD ($)
ft²
Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Jan. 01, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]        
Lease Liability, Total $ 353      
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract 12 months      
Operating Lease, Liability $ 171      
Area of lease (in sqft) | ft² 1,000,000      
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability $ 68      
Initial term of lease 15 years      
Lease, Cost [Abstract]        
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Amortization $ 5      
Finance Lease, Interest Expense 2      
Finance Lease, Total Cost 7      
Operating leases expense net 6 $ 9    
Total Lease Cost $ 13      
Weighted average lease term and discount rate [Abstract]        
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term 9 years 6 months      
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term 12 years 2 months      
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent 4.90%      
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent 6.10%      
Supplemental balance sheet information [Abstract]        
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset $ 157   $ 92 $ 0
Operating Lease, Liability, Current 18   18  
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent 153   $ 87  
Finance Lease, Right of Use Asset, Gross 280      
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Accumulated Amortization (125)      
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset 155      
Finance Lease, Liability, Current 20      
Finance Lease, Liability, Noncurrent 162      
Finance Lease, Liability 182      
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]        
Operating Lease, Payments 6      
Finance Lease, Interest Payment on Liability 2      
Finance Lease, Principal Payments 5      
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Finance Lease Liability 0      
Finance Lease Liabilities, Payments, Due [Abstract]        
Remainder of 2019 22      
2020 26      
2021 25      
2022 24      
2023 22      
Thereafter 116      
Finance Lease, Liability, Payments, Due 235      
Imputed interest on finance lease (53)      
Operating leases        
Remainder of 2019       21
2020       27
2021       20
2022       19
2023       17
Thereafter       $ 156
Operating Lease, Total Payments Due 260      
Imputed interest of operating leases (89)      
Total Future payments, Leases [Abstract]        
Remainder of 2019 43      
2020 53      
2021 45      
2022 43      
2023 39      
Thereafter 272      
Total Lease Payments Due 495      
Imputed interest on lease liabilities (142)      
Capital Leases, Income Statement, Depreciation Expense   $ 4    
Minimum base rent 6      
Maximum base rent $ 8      
Number of extension options 2      
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Build to Suit Lease, Renewal Term 10 years      
Amended arrangement initial payment $ 10      
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Build to Suit, Amended Arrangement, Installment Payment $ 12      
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Build to Suit, Amended Arrangement, Payment Term 13 years      
Build to suit lease, useful life 20 years      
ECDC [Member]        
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]        
Lessee, Operating Lease, Renewal Term 5 years      
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Lease, Number of Four Year Extension Options 1      
Lessee, Operating Lease, Final Renewal Term 4 years      
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Minimum Rentals $ 10      
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Minimum Rentals, Final Year $ 14      
Lessee Leasing Arrangements, Operating Lease, Number of Five Year Extension Options 2      
Operating Lease, Liability $ 69      
Area of lease (in sqft) | ft² 1,700,000.0      
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability $ 68      
Initial term of lease 15 years      
Minimum [Member]        
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]        
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract 1 year      
Maximum [Member]        
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]        
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract 15 years