Segment Data (Segment Reporting Information Disclosure) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 433,945	$ 411,319	$ 1,284,602	$ 1,216,620
Cost of revenues		111,468	105,468	331,783	314,630
Operating profit		322,477	305,851	952,819	901,990
Selling, general, and administrative	[1],[2]	32,559	32,255	100,177	110,326
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		1,583	2,970	6,857	8,974
Asset impairment and decommission costs		9,417	2,305	25,908	23,180
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		161,907	160,111	480,457	479,635
Operating income		117,011	108,210	339,420	279,875
Other expense (principally interest expense and other income (expense))		(64,472)	(122,006)	(233,259)	(203,119)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes		52,539	(13,796)	106,161	76,756
Cash capital expenditures		115,955	76,670	267,571	297,108
Assets		7,300,470		7,300,470		$ 7,360,945
Provision for doubtful accounts	[3]			1,498	20,516
Domestic Site Leasing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		328,395	319,109	974,850	951,181
Cost of revenues		65,226	65,353	195,903	196,027
Operating profit		263,169	253,756	778,947	755,154
Selling, general, and administrative		16,945	19,206	53,147	55,141
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		962	335	4,300	3,533
Asset impairment and decommission costs		7,898	1,974	22,746	19,359
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		125,142	126,059	373,262	384,208
Operating income		112,222	106,182	325,492	292,913
Cash capital expenditures		57,352	52,589	160,814	232,558
Assets		5,247,946		5,247,946		5,396,394
International Site Leasing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		80,143	69,059	234,239	193,280
Cost of revenues		25,125	21,001	73,167	59,582
Operating profit		55,018	48,058	161,072	133,698
Selling, general, and administrative		6,658	5,277	19,007	30,727
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		621	2,635	2,557	5,441
Asset impairment and decommission costs		1,554	331	2,956	1,476
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		34,548	31,453	100,388	88,111
Operating income		11,637	8,362	36,164	7,943
Cash capital expenditures		57,507	23,057	103,609	60,125
Assets		1,929,355		1,929,355		1,839,703
Site Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		25,407	23,151	75,513	72,159
Cost of revenues		21,117	19,114	62,713	59,021
Operating profit		4,290	4,037	12,800	13,138
Selling, general, and administrative		3,826	3,128	11,495	9,960
Asset impairment and decommission costs		(35)		206
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		605	997	1,968	2,661
Operating income		(106)	(88)	(869)	517
Cash capital expenditures		372	320	692	1,792
Assets		44,976		44,976		43,769
Not Identified by Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative		5,130	4,644	16,528	14,498
Asset impairment and decommission costs					2,345
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,612	1,602	4,839	4,655
Operating income		(6,742)	(6,246)	(21,367)	(21,498)
Other expense (principally interest expense and other income (expense))		(64,472)	(122,006)	(233,259)	(203,119)
Cash capital expenditures		724	$ 704	2,456	2,633
Assets		$ 78,193		$ 78,193		$ 81,079
Oi S.A. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts					16,498
Selling, General And Administrative [Member] | Oi S.A. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision for doubtful accounts					$ 16,498

[1] Includes non-cash compensation of $9,213 and $7,970 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $28,069 and $24,440 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

[2] Includes the impact of the $16,498 Oi reserve for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

[3] Includes the impact of the $16,498 Oi reserve for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.