Segment Data (Segment Reporting Information Disclosure) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 410,735	$ 393,293	$ 1,231,533	$ 1,122,262
Cost of revenues	[1]	111,733	111,876	334,960	316,481
Operating profit		299,002	281,417	896,573	805,781
Selling, general, and administrative	[2]	27,872	26,589	86,017	76,707
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		364	(58)	7,483	10,728
Asset impairment and decommission costs		63,353	5,992	74,185	13,554
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		164,330	159,410	498,560	464,858
Operating income		43,083	89,484	230,328	239,934
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)		(197,103)	(105,126)	(429,889)	(259,909)
Loss before provision for income taxes		(154,020)	(15,642)	(199,561)	(19,975)
Cash capital expenditures	[3]	130,199	140,824	573,649	1,181,385
Assets		7,396,757		7,396,757		$ 7,841,125
Domestic Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		313,131	293,775	926,442	854,003
Cost of revenues	[1]	63,587	63,108	188,841	185,637
Operating profit		249,544	230,667	737,601	668,366
Selling, general, and administrative		16,601	16,456	51,069	48,591
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		253	2,242	7,295	8,878
Asset impairment and decommission costs		63,225	5,536	73,781	12,263
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		134,734	128,781	401,873	384,117
Operating income		34,731	77,652	203,583	214,517
Cash capital expenditures	[3]	92,033	113,231	479,129	449,874
Assets		5,570,376		5,570,376		5,554,753
International Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		58,862	55,235	185,740	144,778
Cost of revenues	[1]	17,759	14,818	54,457	37,412
Operating profit		41,103	40,417	131,283	107,366
Selling, general, and administrative		4,200	4,413	12,157	12,518
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		111	(2,300)	188	1,850
Asset impairment and decommission costs		128	456	404	1,291
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		28,166	28,792	91,636	75,160
Operating income		8,498	9,056	26,898	16,547
Cash capital expenditures	[3]	35,353	17,514	78,427	712,920
Assets		1,557,010		1,557,010		1,989,571
Site Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		38,742	44,283	119,351	123,481
Cost of revenues	[1]	30,387	33,950	91,662	93,432
Operating profit		8,355	10,333	27,689	30,049
Selling, general, and administrative		2,739	3,046	7,475	7,047
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		780	660	2,246	1,788
Operating income		4,836	6,627	17,968	21,214
Cash capital expenditures	[3]	698	1,141	3,429	3,549
Assets		61,192		61,192		78,633
Not Identified by Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative		4,332	2,674	15,316	8,551
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		650	1,177	2,805	3,793
Operating income		(4,982)	(3,851)	(18,121)	(12,344)
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)		(197,103)	(105,126)	(429,889)	(259,909)
Cash capital expenditures	[3]	2,115	$ 8,938	12,664	$ 15,042
Assets	[4]	$ 208,179		$ 208,179		$ 218,168

[1] Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

[2] Includes non-cash compensation of $6,631 and $6,319 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $21,604 and $16,951 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, 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.