Segment Data (Segment Reporting Information Disclosure) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 404,734		$ 393,293	$ 383,420	$ 345,549	$ 335,396		$ 332,094	$ 324,305	$ 313,071	$ 1,526,996		$ 1,304,866		$ 954,084
Cost of revenues											428,485	[1]	408,253	[1]	279,507	[1]
Operating profit											1,098,511		896,613		674,577
Selling, general, and administrative											103,317		85,476		72,148
Acquisition related adjustment and expenses											7,798		19,198		40,433
Asset impairment and decommission costs											23,801		28,960		6,383
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	162,214		159,410	161,005	144,443	133,328		133,281	141,089	125,636	627,072		533,334		408,467
Operating income (loss)	96,590		89,484	83,317	67,132	59,445		63,902	49,534	56,764	336,523		229,645		147,146
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)											(352,183)		(286,863)		(324,238)
Loss before provision for income taxes											(15,660)		(57,218)		(177,092)
Cash capital expenditures											1,797,763		847,511		2,368,498
Assets	7,841,125					6,783,188					7,841,125		6,783,188
Domestic Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											1,157,293		1,048,756		797,794
Cost of revenues											247,237	[1]	242,839	[1]	175,452	[1]
Operating profit											910,056		805,917		622,342
Selling, general, and administrative											67,611		59,320		48,228
Acquisition related adjustment and expenses											3,351		6,525		38,060
Asset impairment and decommission costs											21,538		26,478		4,020
Depreciation, amortization and accretion											515,150		484,053		380,190
Operating income (loss)											302,406		229,541		151,844
Cash capital expenditures											547,774		261,775		2,271,636
Assets	5,554,753					5,427,969					5,554,753		5,427,969
International Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											202,909		84,257		48,300
Cost of revenues											54,076	[1]	27,933	[1]	13,499	[1]
Operating profit											148,833		56,324		34,801
Selling, general, and administrative											16,762		10,065		7,481
Acquisition related adjustment and expenses											4,447		12,673		2,373
Asset impairment and decommission costs											2,263		2,482		2,363
Depreciation, amortization and accretion											104,447		44,973		24,786
Operating income (loss)											20,914		(13,869)		(2,202)
Cash capital expenditures											1,221,786		578,938		86,645
Assets	1,989,571					1,040,401					1,989,571		1,040,401
Site Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											166,794		171,853		107,990
Cost of revenues											127,172	[1]	137,481	[1]	90,556	[1]
Operating profit											39,622		34,372		17,434
Selling, general, and administrative											9,074		7,760		8,187
Depreciation, amortization and accretion											2,453		2,280		2,118
Operating income (loss)											28,095		24,332		7,129
Cash capital expenditures											3,851		6,693		6,466
Assets	78,633					76,214					78,633		76,214
Not Identified By Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	218,168	[2]				238,604	[2]				218,168	[2]	238,604	[2]
Not Identified by Segment [Member] | Not Identified By Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative											9,870	[3]	8,331	[3]	8,252	[3]
Depreciation, amortization and accretion											5,022	[3]	2,028	[3]	1,373	[3]
Operating income (loss)											(14,892)	[3]	(10,359)	[3]	(9,625)	[3]
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)											(352,183)	[3]	(286,863)	[3]	(324,238)	[3]
Cash capital expenditures											$ 24,352	[3]	$ 105	[3]	$ 3,751	[3]

[1] Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

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

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