Segment Data (Segment Reporting Information Disclosure) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 393,293		$ 332,094		$ 1,122,262		$ 969,470
Cost of revenues	111,876	[1]	103,295	[1]	316,481	[1]	307,715	[1]
Operating profit (loss)	281,417		228,799		805,781		661,755
Selling, general, and administrative	26,589	[2]	21,827	[2]	76,707	[2]	63,765	[2]
Asset impairment and decommission costs	5,992		6,190		13,554		16,405
Acquisition related adjustment and expenses	(58)		3,599		10,728		11,378
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	159,410		133,281		464,858		400,006
Operating income (loss)	89,484		63,902		239,934		170,201
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)	(105,126)		(42,164)		(259,909)		(205,507)
Loss (income) before provision for income taxes	(15,642)		21,738		(19,975)		(35,306)
Cash capital expenditures	140,813	[3]	125,366	[3]	1,181,385	[3]	451,667	[3]
Assets	7,808,992				7,808,992				6,783,188
Domestic Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	293,775		267,540		854,003		781,366
Cost of revenues	63,108	[1]	61,259	[1]	185,637	[1]	183,869	[1]
Operating profit (loss)	230,667		206,281		668,366		597,497
Selling, general, and administrative	16,908		15,321		49,665		44,088
Asset impairment and decommission costs	5,536		5,678		12,263		14,860
Acquisition related adjustment and expenses	2,242		1,838		8,878		2,833
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	129,227		121,766		385,605		365,798
Operating income (loss)	76,754		61,678		211,955		169,918
Cash capital expenditures	113,561	[3]	63,401	[3]	451,384	[3]	177,835	[3]
Assets	5,559,854				5,559,854				5,427,969
International Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	55,235		19,943		144,778		59,122
Cost of revenues	14,818	[1]	6,783	[1]	37,412	[1]	20,058	[1]
Operating profit (loss)	40,417		13,160		107,366		39,064
Selling, general, and administrative	4,413		2,500		12,518		6,765
Asset impairment and decommission costs	456		512		1,291		1,545
Acquisition related adjustment and expenses	(2,300)		1,761		1,850		8,545
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	28,792		10,308		75,160		31,026
Operating income (loss)	9,056		(1,921)		16,547		(8,817)
Cash capital expenditures	17,514	[3]	58,343	[3]	712,920	[3]	266,845	[3]
Assets	1,623,467				1,623,467				1,040,401
Site Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	44,283		44,611		123,481		128,982
Cost of revenues	33,950	[1]	35,253	[1]	93,432	[1]	103,788	[1]
Operating profit (loss)	10,333		9,358		30,049		25,194
Selling, general, and administrative	3,046		1,942		7,047		5,817
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	660		731		1,788		1,762
Operating income (loss)	6,627		6,685		21,214		17,615
Cash capital expenditures	2,151	[3]	3,151	[3]	5,923	[3]	5,798	[3]
Assets	68,167				68,167				76,214
Not Identified by Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative	2,222	[4]	2,064	[4]	7,477	[4]	7,095	[4]
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	731	[4]	476	[4]	2,305	[4]	1,420	[4]
Operating income (loss)	(2,953)	[4]	(2,540)	[4]	(9,782)	[4]	(8,515)	[4]
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)	(105,126)	[4]	(42,164)	[4]	(259,909)	[4]	(205,507)	[4]
Cash capital expenditures	7,587	[3],[4]	471	[3],[4]	11,158	[3],[4]	1,189	[3],[4]
Assets	$ 557,504	[4]			$ 557,504	[4]			$ 238,604	[4]

[1] Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

[2] Includes non-cash compensation of $6,319 and $4,146 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $16,951 and $12,836 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[3] Includes cash paid for capital expenditures and acquisitions and vehicle capital lease additions.

[4] Assets not identified by segment consist primarily of general corporate assets.