Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Site leasing	$ 1,538,070	$ 1,480,634	$ 1,360,202
Site development	95,055	157,840	166,794
Total revenues	1,633,125	1,638,474	1,526,996
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing	342,215	324,655	301,313
Cost of site development	78,682	119,744	127,172
Selling, general, and administrative	143,349	114,951	103,317
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses	13,140	11,864	7,798
Asset impairment and decommission costs	30,242	94,783	23,801
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization	638,189	660,021	627,072
Total operating expenses	1,245,817	1,326,018	1,190,473
Operating income	387,308	312,456	336,523
Other income (expense):
Interest income	10,928	3,894	677
Interest expense	(329,171)	(322,366)	(292,600)
Non-cash interest expense	(2,203)	(1,505)	(27,112)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(21,136)	(19,154)	(17,572)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net	(52,701)	(783)	(26,204)
Other income (expense), net	94,278	(139,137)	10,628
Total other expense, net	(300,005)	(479,051)	(352,183)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	87,303	(166,595)	(15,660)
Provision for income taxes	(11,065)	(9,061)	(8,635)
Net income (loss)	$ 76,238	$ (175,656)	$ (24,295)
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic	$ 0.61	$ (1.37)	$ (0.19)
Diluted	$ 0.61	$ (1.37)	$ (0.19)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	124,448	127,794	128,919
Diluted	125,144	127,794	128,919