10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021

OR

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission file number: 001-16853

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Florida	65-0716501
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)

8051 Congress Avenue
Boca Raton, Florida	33487
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (561) 995-7670

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share	SBAC	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
		(NASDAQ Global Select Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  x   No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer	x	Accelerated Filer	¨
Non-Accelerated Filer	¨	Smaller Reporting Company	¨
		Emerging Growth Company	¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 109,344,636 shares of Class A common stock as of April 26, 2021.

Table of Contents

		Page
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 2020	1
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	2
	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	3
	Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	4
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020	5
	Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	7
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	31
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	34
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	34
Item 6.	Exhibits	35
SIGNATURES		36

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par values)

	March 31,		December 31,
	2021		2020
ASSETS	(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	176,622	$	308,560
Restricted cash		62,926		31,671
Accounts receivable, net		86,165		74,088
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts		38,574		34,796
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		25,640		23,875
Total current assets		389,927		472,990
Property and equipment, net		2,608,526		2,677,326
Intangible assets, net		2,984,098		3,156,150
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		2,303,070		2,369,358
Acquired and other right-of-use assets, net		956,945		4,202
Other assets		520,894		477,992
Total assets	$	9,763,460	$	9,158,018
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS,
AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	33,610	$	109,969
Accrued expenses		57,218		63,031
Current maturities of long-term debt		24,000		24,000
Deferred revenue		174,351		113,117
Accrued interest		27,003		54,350
Current lease liabilities		231,952		236,037
Other current liabilities		12,630		14,297
Total current liabilities		560,764		614,801
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net		12,019,757		11,071,796
Long-term lease liabilities		2,035,371		2,094,363
Other long-term liabilities		179,068		186,246
Total long-term liabilities		14,234,196		13,352,405
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		13,677		15,194
Shareholders' deficit:
Preferred stock - par value $0.01, 30,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding		—		—
Common stock - Class A, par value $0.01, 400,000 shares authorized, 109,331 shares and
109,819 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020,
respectively		1,093		1,098
Additional paid-in capital		2,610,472		2,586,130
Accumulated deficit		(6,848,313)		(6,604,028)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net		(808,429)		(807,582)
Total shareholders' deficit		(5,045,177)		(4,824,382)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' deficit	$	9,763,460	$	9,158,018

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

1

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Revenues:
Site leasing	$	505,103	$	492,356
Site development		43,636		24,711
Total revenues		548,739		517,067
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion,
and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing		95,368		95,799
Cost of site development		34,406		19,715
Selling, general, and administrative expenses (1)		51,601		49,617
Acquisition and new business initiatives related
adjustments and expenses		5,001		3,799
Asset impairment and decommission costs		4,903		14,355
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		183,881		182,579
Total operating expenses		375,160		365,864
Operating income		173,579		151,203
Other income (expense):
Interest income		632		885
Interest expense		(90,095)		(95,851)
Non-cash interest expense		(11,804)		(2,406)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(4,891)		(5,139)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		(11,652)		(16,864)
Other expense, net		(88,436)		(226,299)
Total other expense, net		(206,246)		(345,674)
Loss before income taxes		(32,667)		(194,471)
Benefit for income taxes		20,922		66,538
Net loss		(11,745)		(127,933)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		875
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications
Corporation	$	(11,745)	$	(127,058)
Net loss per common share attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation:
Basic	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)
Diluted	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic		109,469		111,908
Diluted		109,469		111,908

(1)Includes non-cash compensation of $19,584 and $15,553 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(unaudited) (in thousands)

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Net loss	$	(11,745)	$	(127,933)
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps		42,787		(103,240)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(43,634)		(174,841)
Comprehensive loss		(12,592)		(406,014)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		—		2,058
Comprehensive loss attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation	$	(12,592)	$	(403,956)

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

‎

3

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

(unaudited) (in thousands)

								Accumulated
	Class A			Additional				Other		Total
	Common Stock			Paid-In		Accumulated		Comprehensive		Shareholders'
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Deficit		Loss		Deficit
BALANCE, December 31, 2019	111,775	$	1,118	$	2,461,335	$	(5,560,695)	$	(568,765)	$	(3,667,007)
Net loss attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation	—		—		—		(127,058)		—		(127,058)
Common stock issued in connection with equity
awards and stock purchase plans, offset
by the impact of net share settlements	621		6		(5,625)		—		—		(5,619)
Non-cash stock compensation	—		—		16,660		—		—		16,660
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps	—		—		—		—		(103,240)		(103,240)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(837)		(8)		—		(203,322)		—		(203,330)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
attributable to SBA Communications
Corporation	—		—		—		—		(174,841)		(174,841)
Dividends and dividend equivalents	—		—		—		(52,311)		—		(52,311)
Adjustment to fair value related to
noncontrolling interests	—		—		(484)		—		—		(484)
BALANCE, March 31, 2020	111,559	$	1,116	$	2,471,886	$	(5,943,386)	$	(846,846)	$	(4,317,230)

								Accumulated
	Class A			Additional				Other		Total
	Common Stock			Paid-In		Accumulated		Comprehensive		Shareholders'
	Shares	Amount		Capital		Deficit		Loss		Deficit
BALANCE, December 31, 2020	109,819		1,098		2,586,130		(6,604,028)		(807,582)		(4,824,382)
Net loss attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation	—		—		—		(11,745)		—		(11,745)
Common stock issued in connection with equity
awards and stock purchase plans, offset
by the impact of net share settlements	166		2		2,013		—		—		2,015
Non-cash stock compensation	—		—		20,812		—		—		20,812
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps	—		—		—		—		42,787		42,787
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(654)		(7)		—		(168,916)		—		(168,923)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
attributable to SBA Communications
Corporation	—		—		—		—		(43,634)		(43,634)
Dividends and dividend equivalents
on common stock	—		—		—		(63,624)		—		(63,624)
Adjustment to fair value related to
noncontrolling interests	—		—		1,517		—		—		1,517
BALANCE, March 31, 2021	109,331	$	1,093	$	2,610,472	$	(6,848,313)	$	(808,429)	$	(5,045,177)

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

‎

4

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited) (in thousands)

	For the three months ended March 31,
	2021		2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(11,745)	$	(127,933)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		183,881		182,579
Loss on remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans		86,251		230,132
Non-cash compensation expense		20,422		16,278
Non-cash asset impairment and decommission costs		4,791		13,997
Loss from extinguishment of debt		10,652		16,864
Deferred income tax benefit		(26,837)		(72,204)
Other non-cash items reflected in the Statements of Operations		17,413		1,402
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of
billings on uncompleted contracts, net		(4,523)		19,712
Prepaid expenses and other assets		3,517		(1,643)
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		29,865		30,181
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(4,667)		(4,725)
Accrued interest		(27,347)		(18,197)
Long-term lease liabilities		(26,393)		(24,712)
Other liabilities		30,218		16,011
Net cash provided by operating activities		285,498		277,742
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions		(1,052,676)		(89,531)
Capital expenditures		(24,536)		(39,291)
Purchase of investments		(755,013)		(610,012)
Proceeds from sale of investments		755,000		610,000
Other investing activities		641		(3,178)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,076,584)		(132,012)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility		710,000		500,000
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility		(500,000)		(505,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of fees		1,485,670		988,516
Repayment of Senior Notes		(757,500)		(759,143)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(168,923)		(203,330)
Payment of dividends on common stock		(63,412)		(52,201)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase/stock option plans		10,838		38,869
Payments related to taxes on net settlement of stock options and restricted stock units		(8,823)		(44,488)
Other financing activities		(6,507)		(6,558)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		701,343		(43,335)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		(10,880)		(13,900)
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH		(100,623)		88,495
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH:
Beginning of period		342,808		141,120
End of period	$	242,185	$	229,615

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited) (in thousands)

	For the three months ended March 31,
	2021		2020
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	$	118,430	$	114,033
Income taxes	$	6,387	$	5,981
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$	11,890	$	11,250
Operating lease modifications and reassessments	$	6,181	$	15,264
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities	$	1,033	$	893

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

‎

6

SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, the actual amounts, when known, may vary from these estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net in the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit.

For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries, which are not denominated in U.S. dollars, are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Remeasurement gains and losses are reported as other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as settlement is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future. The Company recorded a $57.0 million loss and a $152.8 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $116.3 million of the intercompany loan. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $793.7 million and $909.8 million, respectively.

Reference Rate Reform

ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform, provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided by the amendments do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. An entity may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”) intends to cease the publication of USD LIBOR as follows: the 1 week and 2 month tenors on December 31, 2021 and all other tenors on June 30, 2023. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has not modified any contracts as a result of reference rate reform and is evaluating the impact this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

7

2.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis— The Company’s asset retirement obligations are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the asset retirement obligations is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Refer to Note 16 for discussion of the Company’s redeemable non-controlling interests.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis— The Company’s long-lived and intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. The Company considers many factors and makes certain assumptions when making this assessment, including, but not limited to: general market and economic conditions, historical operating results, geographic location, lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up. The fair value of the long-lived and intangible assets is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Asset impairment and decommission costs for all periods presented and the related impaired assets primarily relate to the Company’s site leasing operating segment. The following summarizes the activity of asset impairment and decommission costs (in thousands):

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Asset impairment (1)	$	3,156	$	11,009
Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers		1,327		2,699
Other (including third party decommission costs)		420		647
Total asset impairment and decommission costs	$	4,903	$	14,355

(1)Represents impairment charges resulting from the Company’s regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

The Company’s long term investments were $55.5 million and $57.6 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Some of these investments provide for the Company to increase their investment in the future through call options exercisable by the Company and put options exercisable by the investee. These put and call options are recorded at fair market value. The estimation of the fair value of the investment involves the use of Level 3 inputs. The Company evaluates these investments for indicators of impairment. The Company considers impairment indicators such as negative changes in industry and market conditions, financial performance, business prospects, and other relevant events and factors. If indicators exist and the fair value of the investment is below the carrying amount, the investment could be impaired.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments— The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, and short-term investments approximate their estimated fair values due to the shorter maturity of these instruments. The Company’s estimate of its short term investments are based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $0.7 million of short-term investments, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company purchased and sold $755.0 million of short-term investments.

The Company determines fair value of its debt instruments utilizing various Level 2 sources including quoted prices and indicative quotes (non-binding quotes) from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information including implied credit spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask prices. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility is considered to approximate the carrying value because the Company does not believe its credit risk has changed materially from the date the applicable Eurodollar Rate was set for the Revolving Credit Facility (112.5 to 175.0 basis points). Refer to Note 10 for the fair values, principal balances, and carrying values of the Company’s debt instruments.

For discussion of the Company’s derivatives and hedging activities, refer to Note 17.

‎

8

3.CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH

The cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consist of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020		Included on Balance Sheet
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	176,622	$	308,560
Securitization escrow accounts		62,773		31,507	Restricted cash - current asset
Payment and performance bonds		153		164	Restricted cash - current asset
Surety bonds and workers compensation		2,637		2,577	Other assets - noncurrent
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	242,185	$	342,808

Pursuant to the terms of the Tower Securities (see Note 10), the Company is required to establish a securitization escrow account, held by the indenture trustee, into which all rents and other sums due on the towers that secure the Tower Securities are directly deposited by the lessees. These restricted cash amounts are used to fund reserve accounts for the payment of (1) debt service costs, (2) ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes and insurance premiums related to towers, (3) trustee and servicing expenses, and (4) management fees. The restricted cash in the securitization escrow account in excess of required reserve balances is subsequently released to the Borrowers (as defined in Note 10) monthly, provided that the Borrowers are in compliance with their debt service coverage ratio and that no event of default has occurred. All monies held by the indenture trustee are classified as restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Payment and performance bonds relate primarily to collateral requirements for tower construction currently in process by the Company. Cash is pledged as collateral related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and primarily related to the Company’s tower removal obligations. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $42.0 million and $41.8 million in surety and payment and performance bonds, respectively, for which no collateral was required to be posted. The Company periodically evaluates the collateral posted for its bonds to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had also pledged $2.3 million as collateral related to its workers’ compensation policy.

4.COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

The Company’s costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	62,753	$	54,949
Estimated earnings		25,149		21,778
Billings to date		(51,333)		(43,725)
	$	36,569	$	33,002

These amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	$	38,574	$	34,796
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on
uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities)		(2,005)		(1,794)
	$	36,569	$	33,002

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the eight largest customers comprised 99.5% and 99.4%, respectively, of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings.

‎

9

5.PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS AND OTHER ASSETS

The Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
		(in thousands)
Prepaid ground rent	$	1,865	$	1,412
Prepaid real estate taxes		3,292		3,153
Prepaid taxes		6,179		8,121
Other current assets		14,304		11,189
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	25,640	$	23,875

The Company’s other assets are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
		(in thousands)
Straight-line rent receivable	$	318,107	$	321,816
Interest rate swap asset (1)		43,689		12,123
Loan receivables		5,304		5,931
Deferred lease costs, net		5,029		4,788
Deferred tax asset - long term		71,494		53,722
Long-term investments		55,523		57,575
Other		21,748		22,037
Total other assets	$	520,894	$	477,992

(1)Refer to Note 17 for more information on the Company’s interest rate swaps.

6.ACQUISITIONS

The following table summarizes the Company’s acquisition activity:

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
	(in thousands)
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets	$	101,630	$	82,274
Acquisition of right-of-use assets (1)		945,915		—
Land buyouts and other assets (2)		5,131		7,257
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures	$	1,052,676	$	89,531

(1)On February 16, 2021, the Company acquired the exclusive right to lease and operate 697 utility transmission structures, which included existing wireless tenant licenses from PG&E for $954.0 million. The difference between the agreed upon purchase price of $954.0 million and the cash acquisition amount is due to working capital adjustments. The Company accounted for the payment with respect to these sites as a right-of-use asset, which is recorded in Acquired and other right of use assets, net on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The payments associated with the right of use of these structures has been fully funded and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 70 years.

(2)In addition, the Company paid $2.8 million and $1.7 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company allocated the purchase price of 34 acquired towers and related assets and liabilities consisting of $2.2 million of property and equipment, $21.1 million of intangible assets, and $78.4 million of other net assets and liabilities assumed. In the three months ended March 31, 2021, all acquisitions were accounted for as asset acquisitions.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company acquired 17 tower and related assets for $6.0 million in cash.

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The maximum potential obligation related to contingent consideration for acquisitions was $18.3 million and $35.0 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. No such amounts have been recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

7.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment, net consists of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Towers and related components	$	5,204,880	$	5,213,019
Construction-in-process (1)		34,040		38,065
Furniture, equipment, and vehicles		54,270		54,610
Land, buildings, and improvements		821,752		818,272
Total property and equipment		6,114,942		6,123,966
Less: accumulated depreciation		(3,506,416)		(3,446,640)
Property and equipment, net	$	2,608,526	$	2,677,326

(1)Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s site leasing operations.

Depreciation expense was $71.5 million and $71.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, unpaid capital expenditures that are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses were $5.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

8.INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:

	As of March 31, 2021						As of December 31, 2020
	Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book		Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book
	amount		amortization		value		amount		amortization		value
	(in thousands)
Current contract intangibles	$	4,794,137	$	(2,520,675)	$	2,273,462	$	4,876,880	$	(2,471,438)	$	2,405,442
Network location intangibles		1,754,579		(1,043,943)		710,636		1,770,944		(1,020,236)		750,708
Intangible assets, net	$	6,548,716	$	(3,564,618)	$	2,984,098	$	6,647,824	$	(3,491,674)	$	3,156,150

All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s site leasing segment. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets above was $109.8 million and $110.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

9.ACCRUED EXPENSES

The Company’s accrued expenses are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Salaries and benefits	$	15,046	$	20,958
Real estate and property taxes		9,178		9,583
Unpaid capital expenditures		5,330		6,073
Other		27,664		26,417
Total accrued expenses	$	57,218	$	63,031

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10.DEBT

The principal values, fair values, and carrying values of debt consist of the following (in thousands):

		As of						As of
		March 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Maturity Date	Principal ‎Balance		Fair Value		Carrying ‎Value		Principal ‎Balance		Fair Value		Carrying ‎Value
Revolving Credit Facility	Apr. 11, 2023	$	590,000	$	590,000	$	590,000	$	380,000	$	380,000	$	380,000
2018 Term Loan	Apr. 11, 2025		2,334,000		2,301,908		2,320,200		2,340,000		2,310,750		2,325,391
2013-2C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 11, 2023		575,000		590,841		572,370		575,000		599,662		572,063
2014-2C Tower Securities (1)	Oct. 8, 2024		620,000		655,185		616,368		620,000		670,003		616,131
2017-1C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 11, 2022		760,000		767,532		757,703		760,000		774,410		757,165
2018-1C Tower Securities (1)	Mar. 9, 2023		640,000		660,928		636,481		640,000		671,341		636,045
2019-1C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 12, 2025		1,165,000		1,192,249		1,155,684		1,165,000		1,218,613		1,155,106
2020-1C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 9, 2026		750,000		734,505		743,050		750,000		752,910		742,782
2020-2C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 11, 2028		600,000		571,254		594,215		600,000		597,840		594,081
2016 Senior Notes	Sep. 1, 2024		1,100,000		1,124,871		1,089,616		1,100,000		1,127,500		1,088,924
2017 Senior Notes	Oct. 1, 2022		—		—		—		750,000		757,500		746,642
2020 Senior Notes	Feb. 15, 2027		1,500,000		1,533,975		1,482,131		1,500,000		1,567,500		1,481,466
2021 Senior Notes	Feb. 1, 2029		1,500,000		1,445,625		1,485,939		—		—		—
Total debt		$	12,134,000	$	12,168,873	$	12,043,757	$	11,180,000	$	11,428,029	$	11,095,796
Less: current maturities of long-term debt							(24,000)						(24,000)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities						$	12,019,757					$	11,071,796

(1)The maturity date represents the anticipated repayment date for each issuance.

The table below reflects cash and non-cash interest expense amounts recognized by debt instrument for the periods presented:

	Interest	For the three months ended March 31,
	Rates as of	2021				2020
	March 31,	Cash		Non-cash		Cash		Non-cash
	2021	Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest
Revolving Credit Facility	1.590%	$	2,148	$	—	$	2,714	$	—
2018 Term Loan (1)	1.872%		10,997		11,434		22,203		2,022
2013-2C Tower Securities	3.722%		5,396		—		5,396		—
2014-2C Tower Securities	3.869%		6,046		—		6,046		—
2015-1C Tower Securities	3.156%		—		—		3,985		—
2016-1C Tower Securities	2.877%		—		—		5,090		—
2017-1C Tower Securities	3.168%		6,085		—		6,085		—
2018-1C Tower Securities	3.448%		5,570		—		5,570		—
2019-1C Tower Securities	2.836%		8,357		—		8,357		—
2020-1C Tower Securities	1.884%		3,598		—		—		—
2020-2C Tower Securities	2.328%		3,540		—		—		—
2014 Senior Notes	4.875%		—		—		3,352		112
2016 Senior Notes	4.875%		13,406		286		13,406		272
2017 Senior Notes	4.000%		2,333		—		7,500		—
2020 Senior Notes	3.875%		14,531		84		6,135		—
2021 Senior Notes	3.125%		8,073		—		—		—
Other			15		—		12		—
Total		$	90,095	$	11,804	$	95,851	$	2,406

(1)The 2018 Term Loan has a blended rate of 1.872%, which includes the impact of the interest rate swap entered into on August 4, 2020, which swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. Excluding the impact of the interest rate swap, the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 1.860% as of March 31, 2021. Refer to Note 17 for more information on the Company’s interest rate swap.

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Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company borrowed $710.0 million and repaid $500.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2021, the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $590.0 million accruing interest at 1.590% per annum. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (“SBA Senior Finance II”) was required to pay a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of March 31, 2021, SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $95.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $495.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Term Loan under the Senior Credit Agreement

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2021, the 2018 Term Loan had a principal balance of $2.3 billion.

Secured Tower Revenue Securities

As of March 31, 2021, the entities that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”) met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement. The sole asset of the Trust (defined below) consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of the Borrowers.

2021-1C Tower Securities

On April 29, 2021, the Company, through the Trust, priced $1.165 billion of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2021-1C which have an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2026 and a final maturity date of May 9, 2051 (the “2021-1C Tower Securities”). This transaction is expected to close May 14, 2021. The 2021-1C Tower Securities have a fixed interest rate of 1.631% per annum, payable monthly. In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, will purchase $61.4 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2021-1R issued by the Trust. These securities have an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2026 and a final maturity date of May 9, 2051 (the “2021-1R Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2021-1R Tower Securities is 3.625% per annum, payable monthly. Principal and interest payments made on the 2021-1R Tower Securities will eliminate in consolidation.

Net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2017-1C Tower Securities ($760.0 million) and the Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2017-1R ($40.0 million) and for general corporate purposes.

Senior Notes

2021 Senior Notes

On January 29, 2021, the Company issued $1.5 billion of unsecured senior notes due February 1, 2029 at par value (the “2021 Senior Notes”). The 2021 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 3.125% per annum. Interest on the 2021 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2021. The Company incurred financing fees of $14.3 million to date in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering were used to redeem all of the outstanding principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes, repay the amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, and for general corporate purposes.

The 2021 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after February 1, 2024 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to February 1, 2024, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2021 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 103.125% of the principal amount of the 2021 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may redeem the 2021 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: February 1, 2024 at 101.563%, February 1, 2025 at 100.781%, or February 1,

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2026 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2021 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2017 Senior Notes

On February 11, 2021, the Company redeemed the entire $750.0 million balance of the 2017 Senior Notes with proceeds from the 2021 Senior Notes. In addition, the Company paid a $7.5 million call premium and expensed $4.2 million for the write-off of financing fees related to the redemption of the 2017 Senior Notes, which are reflected in loss from extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

11.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock Equivalents

The Company has outstanding stock options, time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) which were considered in the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation (see Note 15).

Registration of Additional Shares

On February 26, 2021, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an automatic shelf registration statement for well-known seasoned issuers on Form S-3, which enables the Company to issue shares of its Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, or depositary shares as well as units that include any of these securities. The Company will file a prospectus supplement containing the amount and type of securities each time it issues securities under its automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3. No securities were issued under this automatic shelf registration statement through the date of this filing.

Stock Repurchases

The Company’s Board of Directors authorizes the Company to purchase, from time to time, outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Once authorized, the repurchase plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion. Shares repurchased are retired. On November 2, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion stock repurchase plan, replacing the prior plan authorized on July 29, 2019, which had a remaining authorization of $124.3 million. As of the date of this filing, the Company had $475.1 million authorization remaining under the new plan.

The following is a summary of the Company’s share repurchases:

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Total number of shares purchased (in millions) (1)		0.7		0.8
Average price paid per share (1)	$	258.33	$	242.86
Total price paid (in millions) (1)	$	168.9	$	200.0

(1)Amounts are calculated based on the trade date and differ from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, which calculate share repurchases based on the settlement date.

Dividends

As of March 31, 2021, the Company paid the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders
	of Record At the Close	Cash Paid	Aggregate Amount
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Paid	Date Paid
February 19, 2021	March 10, 2021	$0.58	$63.4 million	March 26, 2021

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Dividends paid in 2021 and 2020 were ordinary income.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company declared the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders	Cash to
	of Record At the Close	be Paid
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Date to be Paid
April 26, 2021	May 20, 2021	$0.58	June 15, 2021

12.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Options

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as follows (dollars and shares in thousands, except for per share data):

		Weighted-		Weighted-Average
		Average		Remaining
	Number	Exercise Price		Contractual	Aggregate
	of Shares	Per Share		Life (in years)	Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	3,202	$	143.01
Exercised	(70)	$	122.72
Forfeited/canceled	(7)	$	173.81
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	3,125	$	143.39	3.5	$	419,128
Exercisable at March 31, 2021	2,371	$	132.98	3.2	$	342,849
Unvested at March 31, 2021	754	$	176.21	4.7	$	76,279

The total intrinsic value for options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $9.5 million.

Restricted Stock Units and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU and PSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

	RSUs			PSUs
		Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average
	Number of	Grant Date Fair		Number of	Grant Date Fair
	Shares	Value per Share		Shares	Value per Share
	(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2020 (1)	274	$	206.48	148	$	376.48
Granted (1)	101	$	235.92	153	$	236.48
Vested	(122)	$	185.34	—	$	—
Forfeited/canceled	(3)	$	224.37	(1)	$	376.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	250	$	228.47	300	$	304.80

(1)PSUs represent the target number of shares granted that are issuable at the end of the three year performance period. Fair value for a portion of the PSUs was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

13.INCOME TAXES

The primary reasons for the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the U.S. statutory rate are the Company’s REIT election and the Company’s full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets of the U.S. taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). The TRS has concluded that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized and has recorded a full valuation allowance. A foreign tax provision is recognized because certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company have profitable operations or are in a net deferred tax liability position.

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, the Company generally will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that it pays, and therefore, not subject to U.S. federal corporate

15

income tax on that portion of its net income that it distributes to its shareholders. As a REIT, the Company will continue to pay U.S. federal income tax on earnings, if any, from assets and operations held through its TRSs. These assets and operations currently consist primarily of the Company’s site development services and its international operations. The Company’s international operations would continue to be subject, as applicable, to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those operations are located. The Company may also be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property, and other taxes on its assets and operations. The Company’s determination as to the timing and amount of future dividend distributions will be based on a number of factors, including REIT distribution requirements, its existing federal net operating losses (“NOLs”) of approximately $651.1 million as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s financial condition, earnings, debt covenants, and other possible uses of such funds. The Company may use these NOLs to offset its REIT taxable income, and thus any required distributions to shareholders may be reduced or eliminated until such time as the NOLs have been fully utilized.

14.SEGMENT DATA

The Company operates principally in two business segments: site leasing and site development. The Company’s site leasing business includes two reportable segments, domestic site leasing and international site leasing. The Company’s business segments are strategic business units that offer different services. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. The site leasing segment includes results of the managed and sublease businesses. The site development segment includes the results of both consulting and construction related activities. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker utilizes segment operating profit and operating income as his two measures of segment profit in assessing performance and allocating resources at the reportable segment level. The Company has applied the aggregation criteria to operations within the international site leasing segment on a basis that is consistent with management’s review of information and performance evaluations of the individual markets in this region.

Revenues, cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization), capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company continues to operate are presented below.

	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Other		Total
For the three months ended March 31, 2021	(in thousands)
Revenues	$	403,579	$	101,524	$	43,636	$	—	$	548,739
Cost of revenues (1)		65,120		30,248		34,406		—		129,774
Operating profit		338,459		71,276		9,230		—		418,965
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		28,056		7,760		5,789		9,996		51,601
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		3,332		1,669		—		—		5,001
Asset impairment and decommission costs		3,871		1,032		—		—		4,903
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		137,054		43,121		2,082		1,624		183,881
Operating income (loss)		166,146		17,694		1,359		(11,620)		173,579
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other expense)								(206,246)		(206,246)
Loss before income taxes										(32,667)
Cash capital expenditures (2)		1,059,678		16,947		870		750		1,078,245
For the three months ended March 31, 2020
Revenues	$	386,345	$	106,011	$	24,711	$	—	$	517,067
Cost of revenues (1)		63,905		31,894		19,715		—		115,514
Operating profit		322,440		74,117		4,996		—		401,553
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		27,323		7,931		4,456		9,907		49,617
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		2,597		1,202		—		—		3,799
Asset impairment and decommission costs		10,826		3,529		—		—		14,355
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		133,806		46,612		616		1,545		182,579
Operating income (loss)		147,888		14,843		(76)		(11,452)		151,203
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other expense)								(345,674)		(345,674)
Loss before income taxes										(194,471)
Cash capital expenditures (2)		101,306		26,433		782		1,194		129,715

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	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Other (3)		Total
Assets	(in thousands)
As of March 31, 2021	$	6,776,019	$	2,696,652	$	81,127	$	209,662	$	9,763,460
As of December 31, 2020	$	5,893,636	$	2,955,563	$	61,729	$	247,090	$	9,158,018

(1)Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

(2)Includes cash paid for capital expenditures, acquisitions, and right-of-use assets.

(3)Assets in Other consist primarily of general corporate assets and short-term investments.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, site leasing revenue in Brazil was $55.4 million and $63.1 million, respectively. Other than Brazil, no foreign country represented a material amount of the Company’s total revenues in any of the periods presented. Total long-lived assets in Brazil were $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

15.EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for each respective period. Diluted earnings per share was calculated by dividing net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding adjusted for any dilutive Common Stock equivalents, including unvested RSUs, PSUs, and shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as determined under the “Treasury Stock” method.

The following table sets forth basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except per share data):

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation	$	(11,745)	$	(127,058)
Denominator:
Basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		109,469		111,908
Net loss per common share attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation:
Basic	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)
Diluted	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, all potential common stock equivalents, including 3.1 million shares underlying stock options outstanding, 0.3 million shares underlying RSUs outstanding, and 0.3 million shares underlying PSUs outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, all potential common stock equivalents, including 3.7 million shares underlying stock options outstanding, 0.3 million shares underlying RSUs outstanding, and 0.1 million shares underlying PSUs outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

16. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

As a result of its acquisition of additional interests of a previously unconsolidated joint venture in South Africa which operated under the name Atlas Tower South Africa (“Atlas SA”), the Company has consolidated the results of the entity into its financial statements since August 2019. In connection with the acquisition of the additional interest in Atlas SA, the parties agreed to both a put option exercisable by the noncontrolling interest holder and a call option exercisable by the Company for the remaining 6% minority interest based on a formulaic approach. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company noticed its intent to exercise its call option to acquire its remaining 6% interest in the joint venture. On March 25, 2021, the Company remitted $13.7 million to the seller as closing consideration for the remaining 6% interest in the joint venture, subject to an earnout in September 2021 based on the attainment of certain future performance metrics. The parties are currently in litigation regarding various issues arising in connection

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with the closing of the transaction. Consequently, the Company is retaining the fair value of the acquired 6% noncontrolling interest in Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests until such time as the litigation is resolved.

The fair value assigned to the redeemable noncontrolling interest as of March 31, 2021 is based on the contractually-defined redemption value, which was delivered as closing consideration for the remaining 6% interest. In accordance with the terms of the call option, the amount of closing consideration was fixed upon exercise of the call option. The redeemable noncontrolling interest is recognized at the higher of (1) the initial carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest as adjusted for accumulated income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder, or (2) the contractually-defined redemption value as of the balance sheet date. Adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest are charged against retained earnings (or additional paid-in capital if there are no retained earnings). As of March 31, 2021, the loss attributable to the 6% interest was immaterial.

17.DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company enters into interest rate swaps to hedge the future interest expense from variable rate debt and reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. On August 4, 2020, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II, terminated its existing $1.95 billion cash flow hedge on a portion of its 2018 Term Loan in exchange for a payment of $176.2 million. On the same date, the Company entered into an interest rate swap for $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. The Company designated this interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge as it is expected to be highly effective at offsetting changes in cash flows of the LIBOR based component interest payments of its 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2021, the hedge remains highly effective; therefore, subsequent changes in the fair value are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the interest rate swap has a fair value of $43.7 million and $12.1 million respectively, and is recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On August 4, 2020, the Company also terminated its existing interest rate swaps, which were previously de-designated as cash flow hedges. There was no cash transferred in connection with the termination of these swaps. The Company reclassifies the fair value of its interest rate swaps recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net on their de-designation date to non-cash interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations over their respective remaining term end dates, which range from 2023 to 2025.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net includes an aggregate of $98.1 million and $140.9 million of accumulated derivative net losses as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

The Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk to the extent that a counterparty fails to meet the terms of a contract. The Company’s exposure is limited to the current value of the contract at the time the counterparty fails to perform.

The cash flows associated with these activities are reported in Net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows with the exception of the termination of interest rate swaps, which are recorded in Net cash used in financing activities.

The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Cash Flow Hedge - Interest Rate Swap Agreement	(in thousands)
Change in fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	$	31,566	$	(107,882)
Amount recognized in Non-cash interest expense	$	—	$	(2,822)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements
Amount reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive
loss, net into Non-cash interest expense	$	11,221	$	4,642
Change in fair value recorded in Other income (expense), net	$	—	$	3,966

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We are a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure, including tower structures, rooftops and other structures that support antennas used for wireless communications, which we collectively refer to as “towers” or “sites.” Our principal operations are in the United States and its territories. In addition, we own and operate towers in South America, Central America, Canada, and South Africa. Our primary business line is our site leasing business, which contributed 97.8% of our total segment operating profit for the three months ended March 31, 2021. In our site leasing business, we (1) lease antenna space to wireless service providers on towers that we own or operate and (2) manage rooftop and tower sites for property owners under various contractual arrangements. As of March 31, 2021, we owned 33,711 towers, a substantial portion of which have been built by us or built by other tower owners or operators who, like us, have built such towers to lease space to multiple wireless service providers. Our other business line is our site development business, through which we assist wireless service providers in developing and maintaining their own wireless service networks.

Site Leasing

Our primary focus is the leasing of antenna space on our multi-tenant towers to a variety of wireless service providers under long-term lease contracts in the United States, South America, Central America, Canada, and South Africa. As of March 31, 2021, no U.S. state or territory accounted for more than 10% of our total tower portfolio by tower count, and no U.S. state or territory accounted for more than 10% of our total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2021. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, approximately 30% of our total towers are located in Brazil and less than 4% of our total towers are located in any of our other international markets (each country is considered a market). We derive site leasing revenues primarily from wireless service provider tenants, including T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Oi S.A., Telefonica, Claro, Tigo, and TIM. Wireless service providers enter into tenant leases with us, each of which relates to the lease or use of space at an individual site. In the United States and Canada, our tenant leases are generally for an initial term of five years to 10 years with multiple renewal periods at the option of the tenant. These tenant leases typically contain specific rent escalators, which average 3-4% per year, including the renewal option periods. Tenant leases in South Africa and our Central and South American markets typically have an initial term of 10 years with multiple renewal periods. In Central America, we have similar rent escalators to that of leases in the United States and Canada while our leases in South America and South Africa escalate in accordance with a standard cost of living index. Site leases in South America typically provide for a fixed rental amount and a pass through charge for the underlying rent related to ground leases and other property interests.

Cost of site leasing revenue primarily consists of:

Cash and non-cash rental expense on ground leases and other underlying property interests;

Property taxes;

Site maintenance and monitoring costs (exclusive of employee related costs);

Utilities;

Property insurance; and

Lease initial direct cost amortization.

In the United States and our international markets, ground leases and other property interests are generally for an initial term of five years to 10 years with multiple renewal periods, at our option, and provide for rent escalators which typically average 2-3% annually, or in our South American markets and South Africa, adjust in accordance with a standard cost of living index. As of March 31, 2021, approximately 71% of our tower structures were located on parcels of land that we own, land subject to perpetual easements, or parcels of land in which we have a leasehold interest that extends beyond 20 years. For any given tower, costs are relatively fixed over a monthly or an annual time period. As such, operating costs for owned towers do not generally increase as a result of adding additional customers to the tower. The amount of property taxes varies from site to site depending on the taxing jurisdiction and the height and age of the tower. The ongoing maintenance requirements are typically minimal and include replacing lighting systems, painting a tower, or upgrading or repairing an access road or fencing.

In our Central American markets and Ecuador, significantly all of our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures arising from our new build activities are denominated in U.S. dollars. Specifically, most of our ground leases and other property interests, tenant leases, and tower-related expenses are paid in U.S. dollars. In our Central American markets, our local currency obligations are principally limited to (1) permitting and other local fees, (2) utilities, and (3) taxes. In Brazil, Canada, Chile, and South Africa significantly all of our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures, including tenant leases, ground leases and other property interests, and other tower-related expenses are denominated in local currency. In Colombia, Argentina, and Peru, our revenue, expenses, and capital expenditures, including tenant leases, ground leases and other property interests, and other tower-related expenses are denominated in a mix of local currency and U.S. dollars.

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As indicated in the table below, our site leasing business generates substantially all of our total segment operating profit. For information regarding our operating segments, see Note 14 of our condensed notes to consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report.

	For the three months ended
	March 31,
Segment operating profit as a percentage of total	2021		2020
Domestic site leasing		80.8%		80.3%
International site leasing		17.0%		18.5%
Total site leasing		97.8%		98.8%

We believe that the site leasing business continues to be attractive due to its long-term contracts, built-in rent escalators, high operating margins, and low customer churn (which refers to when a customer does not renew its lease or cancels its lease prior to the end of its term) other than in connection with customer consolidation or cessation of a particular technology. We believe that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers lease additional antenna space on our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and data transfer, network expansion and network coverage requirements. During the remainder of 2021, we expect organic site leasing revenue in both our domestic and international segments to increase over 2020 levels due in part to wireless carriers deploying unused spectrum. We believe our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, predictable operating costs and minimal non-discretionary capital expenditures. Due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, we expect future expenditures required to maintain these towers to be minimal. Consequently, we expect to grow our cash flows by (1) adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs by using existing tower capacity or requiring wireless service providers to bear all or a portion of the cost of tower modifications and (2) executing monetary amendments as wireless service providers add or upgrade their equipment. Furthermore, because our towers are strategically positioned, we have historically experienced low tenant lease terminations as a percentage of revenue other than in connection with customer consolidation or cessations of a specific technology.

Site Development

Our site development business, which is conducted in the United States only, is complementary to our site leasing business and provides us the ability to keep in close contact with the wireless service providers who generate substantially all of our site leasing revenue and to capture ancillary revenues that are generated by our site leasing activities, such as antenna and equipment installation at our tower locations. Site development revenues are earned primarily from providing a full range of end to end services to wireless service providers or companies providing development or project management services to wireless service providers. Our services include: (1) network pre-design; (2) site audits; (3) identification of potential locations for towers and antennas on existing infrastructure; (4) support in leasing of the location; (5) assistance in obtaining zoning approvals and permits; (6) tower and related site construction; (7) antenna installation; and (8) radio equipment installation, commissioning, and maintenance. We provide site development services at our towers and at towers owned by others on a local basis, through regional, market, and project offices. The market offices are responsible for all site development operations.

For information regarding our operating segments, see Note 14 of our condensed notes to consolidated financial statements in this quarterly report.

Capital Allocation Strategy

Our capital allocation strategy is aimed at increasing shareholder value through investment in quality assets that meet our return criteria, stock repurchases when we believe our stock price is below its intrinsic value, and by returning cash generated by our operations in the form of cash dividends. While the addition of a cash dividend to our capital allocation strategy in 2019 has provided us with a new tool to return value to our shareholders, we will also continue to make investments focused on increasing Adjusted Funds From Operations per share. To achieve this, we expect to continue to deploy capital to portfolio growth and stock repurchases, subject to compliance with REIT distribution requirements, available funds and market conditions, while maintaining our target leverage levels. Key elements of our capital allocation strategy include:

Portfolio Growth. We intend to continue to grow our asset portfolio, domestically and internationally, primarily through tower acquisitions and the construction of new towers that meet our internal return on invested capital criteria. 

Stock Repurchase Program. We currently utilize stock repurchases as part of our capital allocation policy when we believe our share price is below its intrinsic value. We believe that share repurchases, when purchased at the right price, will facilitate our goal of increasing our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share.

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Dividend. Cash dividends are an additional component of our strategy of returning value to shareholders. We do not expect our dividend to require any changes in our leverage and, we believe, it will allow us to continue to focus on building and buying quality assets and opportunistically buying back our stock. While the timing and amount of future dividends will be subject to approval by our Board of Directors, we believe that our future cash flow generation will permit us to grow our cash dividend in the future.

COVID-19 Update

We have experienced minimal impact to our business or results of operations from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The extent to which COVID-19 could adversely affect our future business operations will depend on future developments such as the duration of the outbreak, new information on the severity of COVID-19 or its variants, and methods taken to contain or treat the outbreak of COVID-19 including a vaccine distribution program. While the full impact of COVID-19 is not yet known, we will continue to monitor these developments and the potential effects on our business.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have identified the policies and significant estimation processes listed below and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our results of operations. The listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with no need for management’s judgment in their application. In other cases, management is required to exercise judgment in the application of accounting principles with respect to particular transactions. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect reported and expected financial results. For a detailed discussion on the application of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 of our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates and such differences could be significant.

Reference Rate Reform

ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform, provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided by the amendments do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. An entity may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”) intends to cease the publication of USD LIBOR as follows: the 1 week and 2 month tenors on December 31, 2021 and all other tenors on June 30, 2023. As of March 31, 2021, we have not modified any contracts as a result of reference rate reform and are evaluating the impact this standard may have on our consolidated financial statements.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This report presents our financial results and other financial metrics after eliminating the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that providing these financial results and metrics on a constant currency basis, which are non-GAAP measures, gives management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of our business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by dividing the current period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, as well as by eliminating the impact of realized and unrealized gains and losses on our intercompany loans.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

Revenues and Segment Operating Profit:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
Revenues	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	403,579	$	386,345	$	—	$	17,234		4.5%
International site leasing		101,524		106,011		(12,578)		8,091		7.6%
Site development		43,636		24,711		—		18,925		76.6%
Total	$	548,739	$	517,067	$	(12,578)	$	44,250		8.6%
Cost of Revenues
Domestic site leasing	$	65,120	$	63,905	$	—	$	1,215		1.9%
International site leasing		30,248		31,894		(4,249)		2,603		8.2%
Site development		34,406		19,715		—		14,691		74.5%
Total	$	129,774	$	115,514	$	(4,249)	$	18,509		16.0%
Operating Profit
Domestic site leasing	$	338,459	$	322,440	$	—	$	16,019		5.0%
International site leasing		71,276		74,117		(8,329)		5,488		7.4%
Site development		9,230		4,996		—		4,234		84.7%

Revenues

Domestic site leasing revenues increased $17.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to (1) revenues from 858 towers acquired (including wireless tenant licenses on 697 utility transmission structures from the PG&E transaction) and built since January 1, 2020 and (2) organic site leasing growth, primarily from monetary lease amendments for additional equipment added to our towers as well as new leases and contractual rent escalators, partially offset by lease non-renewals.

International site leasing revenues decreased $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing revenues increased $8.1 million. These changes were primarily due to (1) revenues from 106 towers acquired and 356 towers built since January 1, 2020 and (2) organic site leasing growth from new leases, amendments, and contractual escalators. Site leasing revenue in Brazil represented 11.0% of total site leasing revenue for the period. No other individual international market represented more than 4% of our total site leasing revenue.

Site development revenues increased $18.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to prior year, as a result of increased carrier activity driven primarily by T-Mobile.

Operating Profit

Domestic site leasing segment operating profit increased $16.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to additional profit generated by (1) towers acquired and built since January 1, 2020 and organic site leasing growth as noted above, (2) continued control of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (3) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

International site leasing segment operating profit decreased $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing segment operating profit increased $5.5 million. These changes were primarily due to additional profit generated by (1) towers acquired and built since January 1, 2020 and organic site leasing growth as noted above, (2) continued control of our site leasing cost of revenue, and (3) the positive impact of our ground lease purchase program.

Site development segment operating profit increased $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year, as a result of increased carrier activity driven primarily by T-Mobile.

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Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	28,056	$	27,323	$	—	$	733		2.7%
International site leasing		7,760		7,931		(314)		143		1.8%
Total site leasing	$	35,816	$	35,254	$	(314)	$	876		2.5%
Site development		5,789		4,456		—		1,333		29.9%
Other		9,996		9,907		—		89		0.9%
Total	$	51,601	$	49,617	$	(314)	$	2,298		4.6%

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $2.3 million. These changes were primarily as a result of an increase in noncash compensation, partially offset by decreases in personnel and other support related costs as well as travel related expenses.

Acquisition and New Business Initiatives Related Adjustments and Expenses:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	3,332	$	2,597	$	—	$	735		28.3%
International site leasing		1,669		1,202		81		386		32.1%
Total	$	5,001	$	3,799	$	81	$	1,121		29.5%

Asset Impairment and Decommission Costs:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	3,871	$	10,826	$	—	$	(6,955)		(64.2%)
International site leasing		1,032		3,529		(37)		(2,460)		(69.7%)
Total	$	4,903	$	14,355	$	(37)	$	(9,415)		(65.6%)

Asset impairment and decommission costs decreased $9.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily as a result of a $7.9 million decrease in impairment charges resulting from our regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers and a $1.6 million decrease in the impairment charge related to sites decommissioned in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year period.

Depreciation, Accretion, and Amortization Expense:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	137,054	$	133,806	$	—	$	3,248		2.4%
International site leasing		43,121		46,612		(5,297)		1,806		3.9%
Total site leasing	$	180,175	$	180,418	$	(5,297)	$	5,054		2.8%
Site development		2,082		616		—		1,466		238.0%
Other		1,624		1,545		—		79		5.1%
Total	$	183,881	$	182,579	$	(5,297)	$	6,599		3.6%

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Depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increased $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense increased $6.6 million. These changes were primarily due to an increase in the number of towers we acquired and built since January 1, 2020, partially offset by the impact of assets that became fully depreciated since the prior year period.

Operating Income (Expense):

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Domestic site leasing	$	166,146	$	147,888	$	—	$	18,258		12.3%
International site leasing		17,694		14,843		(2,762)		5,613		37.8%
Total site leasing	$	183,840	$	162,731	$	(2,762)	$	23,871		14.7%
Site development		1,359		(76)		—		1,435		1,888.2%
Other		(11,620)		(11,452)		—		(168)		1.5%
Total	$	173,579	$	151,203	$	(2,762)	$	25,138		16.6%

Domestic site leasing operating income increased $18.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher segment operating profit and a decrease in asset impairment and decommission costs, partially offset by increases in depreciation, accretion, amortization expense, acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses, and selling, general, and administrative expenses.

International site leasing operating income increased $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. On a constant currency basis, international site leasing operating income increased $5.6 million. These changes were primarily due to higher segment operating profit and a decrease in asset impairment and decommission costs, partially offset by increases in depreciation, accretion, and amortization expense and acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses.

Site development operating income increased $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher segment operating profit driven by more activity from T-Mobile, partially offset by an increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Other Income (Expense):

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Interest income	$	632	$	885	$	(101)	$	(152)		(17.2%)
Interest expense		(90,095)		(95,851)		(3)		5,759		(6.0%)
Non-cash interest expense		(11,804)		(2,406)		—		(9,398)		390.6%
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(4,891)		(5,139)		—		248		(4.8%)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		(11,652)		(16,864)		—		5,212		(30.9%)
Other expense, net		(88,436)		(226,299)		143,591		(5,728)		(143.7%)
Total	$	(206,246)	$	(345,674)	$	143,487	$	(4,059)		3.5%

Interest expense decreased $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year primarily due to a lower weighted average interest rate due in part to the interest rate swap entered into during the third quarter of 2020, partially offset by a higher average principal amount of cash-interest bearing debt outstanding.

Non-cash interest expense increased $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year primarily related to amortization of accumulated losses related to our interest rate swaps de-designated as cash flow hedges.

Loss from extinguishment of debt was $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 representing the payment of a $7.5 million call premium and the write-off of $4.2 million of unamortized financing fees related to the repayment of the 2017 Senior Notes. Loss from extinguishment of debt was $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 representing the

24

payment of a $9.1 million call premium and the write-off of $7.7 million of the original issuance discount and financing fees related to the redemption of the 2014 Senior Notes.

Other expense, net includes an $86.3 million loss on the remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2021, while the prior year period included a $230.1 million loss.

Benefit for Income Taxes:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Benefit for income taxes	$	20,922	$	66,538	$	(44,594)	$	(1,022)		9.4%

Net Loss:

	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Net loss	$	(11,745)	$	(127,933)	$	96,131	$	20,057		80.4%

Net loss decreased $116.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year. This change was primarily due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates including changes recorded on the remeasurement of the U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries, an increase in operating income, and decreases in cash interest expense related to the interest rate swaps and loss from extinguishment of debt. This was partially offset by a decrease in benefit for income taxes and an increase in non-cash interest expense.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure. We have provided below a description of Adjusted EBITDA, a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure and an explanation as to why management utilizes this measure. This report also presents our financial results and other financial metrics after eliminating the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that providing these financial results and metrics on a constant currency basis, which are non-GAAP measures, gives management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of our business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by dividing the current period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, as well as by eliminating the impact of the remeasurement of our intercompany loans.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income excluding the impact of non-cash straight-line leasing revenue, non-cash straight-line ground lease expense, non-cash compensation, net loss from extinguishment of debt, other income and expenses, acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses, asset impairment and decommission costs, interest income, interest expenses, depreciation, accretion, and amortization, and income taxes.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by management (1) to evaluate the economic productivity of our operations and (2) for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, our operations. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA helps investors or other interested parties to meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations (1) from period to period and (2) to our competitors, by excluding the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest charges from our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our financial results. Management also believes Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by investors or other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is similar to the measure of current financial performance generally used by our lenders to determine compliance with certain covenants under our Senior Credit Agreement and the indentures relating to the 2016 Senior Notes, 2020 Senior Notes, and 2021 Senior Notes. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered only as a supplement to net income computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance.

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	For the three months ended								Constant
	March 31,				Foreign		Constant		Currency
	2021		2020		Currency Impact		Currency Change		% Change
	(in thousands)
Net loss	$	(11,745)	$	(127,933)	$	96,131	$	20,057		80.4%
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue		(576)		(2,341)		(98)		1,863		(79.6%)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense		2,641		3,848		10		(1,217)		(31.6%)
Non-cash compensation		20,422		16,278		(53)		4,197		25.8%
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		11,652		16,864		—		(5,212)		(30.9%)
Other expense, net		88,436		226,299		(143,591)		5,728		(143.7%)
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		5,001		3,799		81		1,121		29.5%
Asset impairment and decommission costs		4,903		14,355		(37)		(9,415)		(65.6%)
Interest income		(632)		(885)		101		152		(17.2%)
Total interest expense (1)		106,790		103,396		3		3,391		3.3%
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		183,881		182,579		(5,297)		6,599		3.6%
Benefit for income taxes (2)		(20,702)		(66,311)		44,593		1,016		9.2%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	390,071	$	369,948	$	(8,157)	$	28,280		7.6%

(1)Total interest expense includes interest expense, non-cash interest expense, and amortization of deferred financing fees.

(2)Benefit for taxes includes $220 and $227 of franchise taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, reflected in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Adjusted EBITDA increased $20.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the prior year period. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased $28.3 million. These changes were primarily due to an increase in segment operating profit and a decrease in cash selling, general, and administrative expenses.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

SBA Communications Corporation (“SBAC”) is a holding company with no business operations of its own. SBAC’s only significant asset is 100% of the outstanding capital stock of SBA Telecommunications, LLC (“Telecommunications”), which is also a holding company that owns equity interests in entities that directly or indirectly own all of our domestic and international towers and assets. We conduct all of our business operations through Telecommunications’ subsidiaries. Accordingly, our only source of cash to pay our obligations, other than financings, is distributions with respect to our ownership interest in our subsidiaries from the net earnings and cash flow generated by these subsidiaries.

A summary of our cash flows is as follows:

	For the three months ended
	March 31, 2021		March 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Cash provided by operating activities	$	285,498	$	277,742
Cash used in investing activities		(1,076,584)		(132,012)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities		701,343		(43,335)
Change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		(89,743)		102,395
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equiv., and restricted cash		(10,880)		(13,900)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period		342,808		141,120
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period	$	242,185	$	229,615

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities was $285.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to $277.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase in operating profit and a decrease in cash selling, general, and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease in cash inflows associated with working capital changes primarily from timing of customer payments, the negative impact on cash from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and an increase in net cash interest paid.

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Investing Activities

A detail of our cash capital expenditures is as follows:

	For the three months ended March 31,
	2021		2020
	(in thousands)
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets	$	(101,630)	$	(82,274)
Acquisition of right-of-use assets (1)		(945,915)		—
Land buyouts and other assets (2)		(5,131)		(7,257)
Construction and related costs on new builds		(8,823)		(17,031)
Augmentation and tower upgrades		(7,560)		(13,031)
Tower maintenance		(7,313)		(8,194)
General corporate		(840)		(1,035)
Other investing activities		628		(3,190)
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(1,076,584)	$	(132,012)

(1)On February 16, 2021, the Company acquired the exclusive right to lease and operate 697 utility transmission structures, which included existing wireless tenant licenses from PG&E.

(2)Excludes $2.8 million and $1.7 million spent to extend ground lease terms for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, we acquired 17 tower and related assets for $6.0 million in cash. In addition, we agreed to purchase 401 additional sites for $110.8 million.

For 2021, we expect to incur non-discretionary cash capital expenditures associated with tower maintenance and general corporate expenditures of $36.0 million to $46.0 million and discretionary cash capital expenditures, based on current or potential acquisition obligations, planned new tower construction, forecasted tower augmentations, and forecasted ground lease purchases, of $1,225.0 million to $1,245.0 million. We expect to fund these cash capital expenditures from cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility or new financings. The exact amount of our future cash capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors, including amounts necessary to support our tower portfolio, our new tower build and acquisition programs, and our ground lease purchase program.

Financing Activities

A detail of our financing activities is as follows:

	For the three months ended
	March 31, 2021		March 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Net borrowings (repayments) under Revolving Credit Facility (1)	$	210,000	$	(5,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of fees (1)		1,485,670		988,516
Repayment of Senior Notes (1)		(757,500)		(759,143)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (2)		(168,923)		(203,330)
Payment of dividends on common stock		(63,412)		(52,201)
Other financing activities		(4,492)		(12,177)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$	701,343	$	(43,335)

(1)For additional information regarding our debt instruments and financings, refer to the Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements below.

(2)For additional information, refer to Item 2. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

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Dividend

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, we paid the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders
	of Record At the Close	Cash Paid	Aggregate Amount
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Paid	Date Paid
February 19, 2021	March 10, 2021	$0.58	$63.4 million	March 26, 2021

Dividends paid in 2021 and 2020 were ordinary dividends.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, we declared the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders	Cash to
	of Record At the Close	be Paid
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Date to be Paid
April 26, 2021	May 20, 2021	$0.58	June 15, 2021

The amount of future distributions will be determined, from time to time, by our Board of Directors to balance our goal of increasing long-term shareholder value and retaining sufficient cash to implement our current capital allocation policy, which prioritizes investment in quality assets that meet our return criteria, and then stock repurchases when we believe our stock price is below its intrinsic value. The actual amount, timing and frequency of future dividends, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will be declared based upon various factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Registration Statements

We have on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form S-4 registering shares of Class A common stock that we may issue in connection with the acquisition of wireless communication towers or antenna sites and related assets or companies who own wireless communication towers, antenna sites, or related assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we did not issue any shares of Class A common stock under this registration statement. As of March 31, 2021, we had approximately 1.2 million shares of Class A common stock remaining under this registration statement.

On February 26, 2021, we filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement for well-known seasoned issuers on Form S-3, which enables us to issue shares of our Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, or depositary shares as well as units that include any of these securities. We will file a prospectus supplement containing the amount and type of securities each time we issue securities under our automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3. No securities were issued under this registration statement through the date of this filing.

Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements

Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement

The Revolving Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan under which up to $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn, based upon specific financial ratios and subject to the satisfaction of other customary conditions to borrowing. Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Facility accrue interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either (1) the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin that ranges from 112.5 basis points to 175.0 basis points or (2) the Base Rate plus a margin that ranges from 12.5 basis points to 75.0 basis points, in each case based on the ratio of Consolidated Net Debt to Annualized Borrower EBITDA, calculated in accordance with the Senior Credit Agreement. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II is required to pay a commitment fee of between 0.20% and 0.25% per annum on the amount of unused commitment. If not earlier terminated by SBA Senior Finance II the Revolving Credit Facility will terminate on, and SBA Senior Finance II will repay all amounts outstanding on or before, April 11, 2023. The proceeds available under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes. SBA Senior Finance II may, from time to time, borrow from and repay the Revolving Credit Facility. Consequently, the amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at the end of the period may not be reflective of the total amounts outstanding during such period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we borrowed $710.0 million and repaid $500.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2021, the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $590.0 million accruing interest at 1.590% per annum. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II was required to pay a commitment fee of

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0.20% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of March 31, 2021, SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, we repaid $95.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $495.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Term Loan under the Senior Credit Agreement

2018 Term Loan

On April 11, 2018, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, obtained a new term loan (the “2018 Term Loan”) under the amended and restated Senior Credit Agreement. The 2018 Term Loan consists of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $2.4 billion that matures on April 11, 2025. The 2018 Term Loan accrues interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election at either the Base Rate plus 75 basis points (with a zero Base Rate floor) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 175 basis points (with a zero Eurodollar Rate floor). The 2018 Term Loan was issued at 99.75% of par value. As of March 31, 2021, the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 1.860% per annum. Principal payments on the 2018 Term Loan are being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $6.0 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2021, the 2018 Term Loan had a principal balance of $2.3 billion.

On August 4, 2020, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II, entered into an interest rate swap for $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan.

Secured Tower Revenue Securities

Tower Revenue Securities Terms

As of March 31, 2021, we, through a New York common law trust (the “Trust”), had issued and outstanding an aggregate of $5.1 billion of Secured Tower Revenue Securities (“Tower Securities”). The sole asset of the Trust consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of certain of our subsidiaries that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”) under which there is a loan tranche for each Tower Security outstanding with the same interest rate and maturity date as the corresponding Tower Security. The mortgage loan will be paid from the operating cash flows from the aggregate 9,988 tower sites owned by the Borrowers as of March 31, 2021. The mortgage loan is secured by (1) mortgages, deeds of trust, and deeds to secure debt on a substantial portion of the tower sites, (2) a security interest in the tower sites and substantially all of the Borrowers’ personal property and fixtures, (3) the Borrowers’ rights under certain tenant leases, and (4) all of the proceeds of the foregoing. For each calendar month, SBA Network Management, Inc., an indirect subsidiary (“Network Management”), is entitled to receive a management fee equal to 4.5% of the Borrowers’ operating revenues for the immediately preceding calendar month.

The table below sets forth the material terms of our outstanding Tower Securities as of March 31, 2021:

Security	Issue Date	Amount Outstanding	Interest Rate	Anticipated Repayment Date	Final Maturity Date
2013-2C Tower Securities	Apr. 18, 2013	$575.0 million	3.722%	Apr. 11, 2023	Apr. 9, 2048
2014-2C Tower Securities	Oct. 15, 2014	$620.0 million	3.869%	Oct. 8, 2024	Oct. 8, 2049
2017-1C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 17, 2017	$760.0 million	3.168%	Apr. 11, 2022	Apr. 9, 2047
2018-1C Tower Securities	Mar. 9, 2018	$640.0 million	3.448%	Mar. 9, 2023	Mar. 9, 2048
2019-1C Tower Securities	Sep. 13, 2019	$1.165 billion	2.836%	Jan. 12, 2025	Jan. 12, 2050
2020-1C Tower Securities	Jul. 14, 2020	$750.0 million	1.884%	Jan. 9, 2026	Jul. 11, 2050
2020-2C Tower Securities	Jul. 14, 2020	$600.0 million	2.328%	Jan. 11, 2028	Jul. 9, 2052

(1)On April 29, 2021, we, through the Trust, priced $1.165 billion of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2021-1C which have an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2026 and a final maturity date of May 9, 2051 (the “2021-1C Tower Securities”). This transaction is expected to close May 14, 2021. The 2021-1C Tower Securities have a fixed interest rate of 1.631% per annum, payable monthly.

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Net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2017-1C Tower Securities ($760.0 million) and the Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2017-1R ($40.0 million) and for general corporate purposes.

As of March 31, 2021, the Borrowers met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement.

Risk Retention Tower Securities

In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, purchased (1) $40.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2017-1R (the “2017-1R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.459% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2017-1C Tower Securities, (2) $33.7 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2018-1R (the “2018-1R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.949% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2018-1C Tower Securities, (3) $61.4 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2019-1R (the “2019-1R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.213% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2019-1C Tower Securities, and (4) $71.1 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2020-2R (the “2020-2R Tower Securities”) issued by the Trust with a fixed interest rate of 4.336% per annum, payable monthly, and with the same anticipated repayment date and final maturity date as the 2020-2C Tower Securities. Principal and interest payments made on the 2017-1R Tower Securities, 2018-1R Tower Securities, 2019-1R Tower Securities, and 2020-2R Tower Securities eliminate in consolidation.

On April 29, 2021, SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, agreed to purchase $61.4 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2021-1R issued by the Trust. These securities have an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2026 and a final maturity date of May 9, 2051 (the “2021-1R Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2021-1R Tower Securities is 3.625% per annum, payable monthly. Principal and interest payments made on the 2021-1R Tower Securities will eliminate in consolidation.

Senior Notes

The table below sets forth the material terms of our outstanding senior notes as of March 31, 2021:

Senior Notes	Issue Date	Amount Outstanding	Interest Rate Coupon	Maturity Date	Interest Due Dates	Optional Redemption Date
2016 Senior Notes	Aug. 15, 2016	$1.1 billion	4.875%	Sep. 1, 2024	Mar. 1 & Sep. 1	Sep. 1, 2019
2020 Senior Notes	Feb. 4, 2020	$1.5 billion	3.875%	Feb. 15, 2027	Feb. 15 & Aug. 15	Feb. 15, 2023
2021 Senior Notes	Jan. 29, 2021	$1.5 billion	3.125%	Feb. 1, 2029	Feb. 1 & Aug. 1	Feb. 1, 2024

The unsecured senior notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may redeem each of the senior notes during the time periods and at the redemption prices set forth in the indentures.

Debt Service

As of March 31, 2021, we believe that our cash on hand, capacity available under our Revolving Credit Facility, and cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months.

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The following table illustrates our estimate of our debt service requirement over the next twelve months based on the amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and the interest rates accruing on those amounts on such date (in thousands):

Revolving Credit Facility	$	10,701
2018 Term Loan (1)		67,683
2013-2C Tower Securities		21,585
2014-2C Tower Securities		24,185
2017-1C Tower Securities (2)		24,318
2018-1C Tower Securities		22,270
2019-1C Tower Securities		33,409
2020-1C Tower Securities		14,368
2020-2C Tower Securities		14,159
2016 Senior Notes		53,625
2020 Senior Notes		58,125
2021 Senior Notes		46,875
Total debt service for the next 12 months (2)	$	391,303

(1)Total debt service on the 2018 Term Loan includes the impact of the interest rate swap entered into on August 4, 2020, which swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan.

(2)The 2017-1C Tower Securities are expected to be repaid on May 14, 2021 in connection with the issuance of the 2021-1C Tower Securities. Total amount excludes debt service with respect to the $1.165 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2021-1C Tower Securities.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments. These instruments arise from transactions entered into in the normal course of business.

The following table presents the future principal payment obligations and fair values associated with our long-term debt instruments assuming our actual level of long-term indebtedness as of March 31, 2021:

	2021		2022		2023		2024		2025		Thereafter		Total		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
Revolving Credit Facility	$	—	$	—	$	590,000	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	590,000	$	590,000
2018 Term Loan		18,000		24,000		24,000		24,000		2,244,000		—		2,334,000		2,301,908
2013-2C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		575,000		—		—		—		575,000		590,841
2014-2C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		620,000		—		—		620,000		655,185
2017-1C Tower Securities (1) (2)		—		760,000		—		—		—		—		760,000		767,532
2018-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		640,000		—		—		—		640,000		660,928
2019-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		1,165,000		—		1,165,000		1,192,249
2020-1C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		—		750,000		750,000		734,505
2020-2C Tower Securities (1)		—		—		—		—		—		600,000		600,000		571,254
2016 Senior Notes		—		—		—		1,100,000		—		—		1,100,000		1,124,871
2020 Senior Notes		—		—		—		—		—		1,500,000		1,500,000		1,533,975
2021 Senior Notes		—		—		—		—		—		1,500,000		1,500,000		1,445,625
Total debt obligation (2)	$	18,000	$	784,000	$	1,829,000	$	1,744,000	$	3,409,000	$	4,350,000	$	12,134,000	$	12,168,873

(1)For information on the anticipated repayment date and final maturity date for each tower security, refer to Debt Instruments and Debt Service Requirements above.

(2)Once issued, the 2021-1C Tower Securities will be due on November 9, 2026 and the proceeds from this offering are expected to be used to repay the full $760.0 million outstanding under the 2017-1C Tower Securities and the full $40.0 million outstanding under the 2017-1R Tower Securities.

Our current primary market risk exposure is (1) interest rate risk relating to our ability to refinance our debt at commercially reasonable rates, if at all, and (2) interest rate risk relating to the impact of interest rate movements on the variable portion of our 2018 Term Loan and any borrowings that we may incur under our Revolving Credit Facility, which are at floating rates. We manage the interest rate risk on our outstanding debt through our large percentage of fixed rate debt, including interest rate swaps. On August 4,

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2020, we, through our wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II, entered into an interest rate swap for $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. While we cannot predict our ability to refinance existing debt or the impact interest rate movements will have on our existing debt, we continue to evaluate our financial position on an ongoing basis. The IBA intends to cease the publication of USD LIBOR as follows: the 1 week and 2 month tenors on December 31, 2021 and all other tenors on June 30, 2023. The discontinuation of LIBOR and the replacement with an alternative reference rate may adversely impact interest rates and our interest expense could increase.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates in connection with our operations in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, South Africa, and to a lesser extent, our markets in Central America. In each of these countries, we pay most of our selling, general, and administrative expenses and a portion of our operating expenses, such as taxes and utilities incurred in the country in local currency. In addition, in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and South Africa, we receive significantly all of our revenue and pay significantly all of our operating expenses in local currency. In Colombia, Argentina, and Peru, we receive our revenue and pay our operating expenses in a mix of local currency and U.S. dollars. All transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar are reported in U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate. All assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of the applicable fiscal reporting period, and all revenues and expenses are translated at average rates for the period. The cumulative translation effect is included in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). For the three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately 13.4% of our revenues and approximately 16.5% of our total operating expenses were denominated in foreign currencies.

We have performed a sensitivity analysis assuming a hypothetical 10% adverse movement in the Brazilian Real from the quoted foreign currency exchange rates at March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2021, the analysis indicated that such an adverse movement would have caused our revenues and operating income to decline by approximately 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

As of March 31, 2021, we had intercompany debt, which is denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary in which it is recorded. As settlement of this debt is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future, any changes in the foreign currency exchange rates will result in unrealized gains or losses, which will be included in our determination of net income. A change of 10% in the underlying exchange rates of our unsettled intercompany debt at March 31, 2021 would have resulted in approximately $65.9 million of unrealized gains or losses that would have been included in Other income (expense), net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These statements concern expectations, beliefs, projections, plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Specifically, this quarterly report contains forward-looking statements regarding:

our expectations on the future growth and financial health of the wireless industry and the industry participants, the drivers of such growth, the demand for our towers, the future capital investments of our customers, future spectrum auctions, the trends developing in our industry, and competitive factors;

our ability to capture and capitalize on industry growth and the impact of such growth on our financial and operational results;

our expectations regarding consolidation of wireless service providers and the impact of such consolidation on our financial and operational results;

our intent to grow our tower portfolio domestically and internationally and expand through acquisitions, new builds, and organic lease up on existing towers;

our belief that over the long-term, site leasing revenues will continue to grow as wireless service providers increase their use of our towers due to increasing minutes of network use and data transfer, network expansion and network coverage requirements;

our expectation regarding site leasing revenue growth, on an organic basis, in our domestic and international segments, and the drivers of such growth;

our focus on our site leasing business and belief that our site leasing business is characterized by stable and long-term recurring revenues, reduced exposure to changes in customer spending, predictable operating costs, and minimal non-discretionary capital expenditures;

our expectation that, due to the relatively young age and mix of our tower portfolio, future expenditures required to maintain these towers will be minimal;

our expectation that we will grow our cash flows by adding tenants to our towers at minimal incremental costs and executing monetary amendments;

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our expectations regarding churn rates;

our election to be subject to tax as a REIT and our intent to continue to operate as a REIT;

our belief that our business is currently operated in a manner that complies with the REIT rules and our intent to continue to do so;

our plans regarding our distribution policy, and the amount and timing of, and source of funds for, any such distributions;

our expectations regarding the use of NOLs to reduce REIT taxable income;

our expectations regarding our capital allocation strategy, including future allocation decisions among portfolio growth, stock repurchases and dividends, the impact of our election to be taxed as a REIT on that strategy, and our goal of increasing our Adjusted Funds From Operations per share;

our expectations regarding dividends and our ability to grow our dividend in the future and the drivers of such growth;

our expectations regarding our future cash capital expenditures, both discretionary and non-discretionary, including expenditures required for new builds and to maintain, improve, and modify our towers, ground lease purchases, and general corporate expenditures, and the source of funds for these expenditures;

our expectations regarding the timing for closing of refinancing transactions;

our expectations regarding our business strategies, including our strategy for securing rights to the land underlying our towers, and the impact of such strategies on our financial and operational results;

our intended use of our liquidity;

our intent to maintain our target leverage levels, including in light of our dividend;

our expectations regarding our debt service in 2021 and our belief that our cash on hand, capacity under our Revolving Credit Facility, and our cash flows from operations for the next twelve months will be sufficient to service our outstanding debt during the next twelve months; and

our expectations and estimates regarding certain tax and accounting matters, including the impact on our financial statements.

These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We wish to caution readers that certain important factors may have affected and could in the future affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. The most important factors that could prevent us from achieving our goals, and cause the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements and the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

the impact of consolidation among wireless service providers, including the impact of T-Mobile and Sprint;

the ability of Dish Network to become and compete as a nationwide carrier;

our ability to continue to comply with covenants and the terms of our credit instruments and our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our capital expenditures;

our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international operations, including risks relating to political or economic conditions, inflation, tax laws, currency restrictions and exchange rate fluctuations, legal or judicial systems, and land ownership;

our ability to successfully manage the risks associated with our acquisition initiatives, including our ability to satisfactorily complete due diligence on acquired towers, the amount and quality of due diligence that we are able to complete prior to closing of any acquisition, our ability to accurately anticipate the future performance of the acquired towers, our ability to receive required regulatory approval, the ability and willingness of each party to fulfill their respective closing conditions and their contractual obligations, and, once acquired, our ability to effectively integrate acquired towers into our business and to achieve the financial results projected in our valuation models for the acquired towers;

the health of the South Africa economy and wireless communications market, and the willingness of carriers to invest in their networks in that market;

developments in the wireless communications industry in general, and for wireless communications infrastructure providers in particular, that may slow growth or affect the willingness or ability of the wireless service providers to expend capital to fund network expansion or enhancements;

our ability to secure as many site leasing tenants as anticipated, recognize our expected economies of scale with respect to new tenants on our towers, and retain current leases on towers;

our ability to secure and deliver anticipated services business at contemplated margins;

our ability to build new towers, including our ability to identify and acquire land that would be attractive for our customers and to successfully and timely address zoning, permitting, weather, availability of labor and supplies and other issues that arise in connection with the building of new towers;

competition for the acquisition of towers and other factors that may adversely affect our ability to purchase towers that meet our investment criteria and are available at prices which we believe will be accretive to our shareholders and allow us to maintain our long-term target leverage ratios while achieving our expected portfolio growth levels;

33

our capital allocation decisions and the impact on our ability to achieve our expected tower portfolio growth levels;

our ability to protect our rights to the land under our towers, and our ability to acquire land underneath our towers on terms that are accretive;

our ability to sufficiently increase our revenues and maintain expenses and cash capital expenditures at appropriate levels to permit us to meet our anticipated uses of liquidity for operations, debt service and estimated portfolio growth;

the impact of rising interest rates on our results of operations and our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness at commercially reasonable rates or at all;

the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the global economy, on our business and results of operations, and on foreign currency exchange rates;

our ability to successfully estimate the impact of regulatory and litigation matters;

natural disasters and other unforeseen damage for which our insurance may not provide adequate coverage;

a decrease in demand for our towers;

the introduction of new technologies or changes in a tenant’s business model that may make our tower leasing business less desirable to existing or potential tenants;

our ability to qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and to comply with and conduct our business in accordance with such rules;

our ability to utilize available NOLs to reduce REIT taxable income; and

our ability to successfully estimate the impact of certain accounting and tax matters, including the effect on our company of adopting certain accounting pronouncements and the availability of sufficient NOLs to offset future REIT taxable income.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

In order to ensure that the information we must disclose in our filings with the Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis, we have formalized our disclosure controls and procedures. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of March 31, 2021. Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of March 31, 2021, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table presents information related to our repurchases of Class A common stock during the first quarter of 2021:

	Total			Total Number of Shares	Approximate Dollar Value
	Number	Average		Purchased as Part of	of Shares that May Yet Be
	of Shares	Price Paid		Publicly Announced	Purchased Under the
Period	Purchased	Per Share		Plans or Programs (1)	Plans or Programs
1/1/2021 - 1/31/2021	254,517	$	262.01	254,517	$	577,354,762
2/1/2021 - 2/28/2021	294,918	$	262.29	294,918	$	500,000,280
3/1/2021 - 3/31/2021	104,406	$	238.18	104,406	$	475,132,492
Total	653,841	$	258.33	653,841	$	475,132,492

(1)Our Board of Directors authorizes us to purchase, from time to time, outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements, and other factors. Once authorized, the repurchase plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by our Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion. Shares repurchased are retired.

‎

34

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibits
31.1	Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification by Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification by Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification by Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104	Cover Page Interactive File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

‎

35

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
May 6, 2021	/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Chief Executive Officer
	(Duly Authorized Officer)
May 6, 2021	/s/ Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)

36

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of SBA Communications Corporation;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 6, 2021	By:	/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Name:	Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer, certify that:

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of SBA Communications Corporation;

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 6, 2021	By:	/s/ Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Name:	Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that to the best of my knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: May 6, 2021	/s/ Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Jeffrey A. Stoops
	Chief Executive Officer

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification Required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

In connection with the Quarterly Report of SBA Communications Corporation (the “Company”), on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Brendan T. Cavanagh, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that to the best of my knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: May 6, 2021	/s/ Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Brendan T. Cavanagh
	Chief Financial Officer

XML

Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Apr. 26, 2021
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-16853
Entity Registrant Name	SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	FL
Entity Tax Identification Number	65-0716501
Entity Address, Address Line One	8051 Congress Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Boca Raton
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	33487
City Area Code	561
Local Phone Number	995-7670
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	SBAC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		109,344,636
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0001034054

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 176,622	$ 308,560
Restricted cash	62,926	31,671
Accounts receivable, net	86,165	74,088
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	38,574	34,796
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	25,640	23,875
Total current assets	389,927	472,990
Property and equipment, net	2,608,526	2,677,326
Intangible assets, net	2,984,098	3,156,150
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	2,303,070	2,369,358
Acquired and other right-of-use assets, net	956,945	4,202
Other assets	520,894	477,992
Total assets	9,763,460	9,158,018
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	33,610	109,969
Accrued expenses	57,218	63,031
Current maturities of long-term debt	24,000	24,000
Deferred revenue	174,351	113,117
Accrued interest	27,003	54,350
Current lease liabilities	231,952	236,037
Other current liabilities	12,630	14,297
Total current liabilities	560,764	614,801
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	12,019,757	11,071,796
Long-term lease liabilities	2,035,371	2,094,363
Other long-term liabilities	179,068	186,246
Total long-term liabilities	14,234,196	13,352,405
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	13,677	15,194
Shareholders' deficit:
Preferred stock - par value $.01, 30,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock - Class A, par value $0.01, 400,000 shares authorized, 109,331 shares and 109,819 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively	1,093	1,098
Additional paid-in capital	2,610,472	2,586,130
Accumulated deficit	(6,848,313)	(6,604,028)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(808,429)	(807,582)
Total shareholders' deficit	(5,045,177)	(4,824,382)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' deficit	$ 9,763,460	$ 9,158,018

XML

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock - Class A, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock - Class A, shares authorized	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock - Class A, shares issued	109,331,000	109,819,000
Common stock - Class A, shares outstanding	109,331,000	109,819,000

XML

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Revenues:
Site leasing		$ 505,103	$ 492,356
Site development		43,636	24,711
Total revenues		548,739	517,067
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing		95,368	95,799
Cost of site development		34,406	19,715
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	[1]	51,601	49,617
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses		5,001	3,799
Asset impairment and decommission costs		4,903	14,355
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		183,881	182,579
Total operating expenses		375,160	365,864
Operating income		173,579	151,203
Other income (expense):
Interest income		632	885
Interest expense		(90,095)	(95,851)
Non-cash interest expense		(11,804)	(2,406)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(4,891)	(5,139)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net		(11,652)	(16,864)
Other expense, net		(88,436)	(226,299)
Total other expense, net		(206,246)	(345,674)
Loss before income taxes		(32,667)	(194,471)
Benefit for income taxes		20,922	66,538
Net loss		(11,745)	(127,933)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			875
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation		$ (11,745)	$ (127,058)
Net loss per common share attributable to SBA Communications Corporation:
Basic		$ (0.11)	$ (1.14)
Diluted		$ (0.11)	$ (1.14)
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic		109,469	111,908
Diluted		109,469	111,908

[1] Includes non-cash compensation of $19,584 and $15,553 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

XML

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Non-cash compensation expense	$ 20,422	$ 16,278
Selling, General And Administrative [Member]
Non-cash compensation expense	$ 19,584	$ 15,553

XML

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (11,745)	$ (127,933)
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps	42,787	(103,240)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(43,634)	(174,841)
Comprehensive loss	(12,592)	(406,014)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		2,058
Comprehensive loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation	$ (12,592)	$ (403,956)

XML

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Deficit - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member] Class A Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Total
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,118	$ 2,461,335	$ (5,560,695)	$ (568,765)	$ (3,667,007)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2019	111,775
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation			(127,058)		(127,058)
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 6	(5,625)			(5,619)
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	621
Non-cash stock compensation		16,660			16,660
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps				(103,240)	(103,240)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (8)		(203,322)		(203,330)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(837)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				(174,841)	(174,841)
Dividends and dividend equivalents on common stock			(52,311)		(52,311)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests		(484)			(484)
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 1,116	2,471,886	(5,943,386)	(846,846)	(4,317,230)
BALANCE, Shares at Mar. 31, 2020	111,559
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,098	2,586,130	(6,604,028)	(807,582)	$ (4,824,382)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2020	109,819				109,819
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation			(11,745)		$ (11,745)
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 2	2,013			2,015
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	166
Non-cash stock compensation		20,812			20,812
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps				42,787	42,787
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (7)		(168,916)		(168,923)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(654)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				(43,634)	(43,634)
Dividends and dividend equivalents on common stock			(63,624)		(63,624)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests		1,517			1,517
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 1,093	$ 2,610,472	$ (6,848,313)	$ (808,429)	$ (5,045,177)
BALANCE, Shares at Mar. 31, 2021	109,331				109,331

XML

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$ (11,745)	$ (127,933)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization	183,881	182,579
Loss on remeasurement of U.S. denominated intercompany loans	86,251	230,132
Non-cash compensation expense	20,422	16,278
Non-cash asset impairment and decommission costs	4,791	13,997
Loss from extinguishment of debt	10,652	16,864
Deferred income tax benefit	(26,837)	(72,204)
Other non-cash items reflected in the Statements of Operations	17,413	1,402
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net	(4,523)	19,712
Prepaid expenses and other assets	3,517	(1,643)
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	29,865	30,181
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(4,667)	(4,725)
Accrued interest	(27,347)	(18,197)
Long-term lease liabilities	(26,393)	(24,712)
Other liabilities	30,218	16,011
Net cash provided by operating activities	285,498	277,742
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(1,052,676)	(89,531)
Capital expenditures	(24,536)	(39,291)
Purchase of investments	(755,013)	(610,012)
Proceeds from sale of investments	755,000	610,000
Other investing activities	641	(3,178)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,076,584)	(132,012)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility	710,000	500,000
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility	(500,000)	(505,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Notes, net of fees	1,485,670	988,516
Repayment of Senior Notes	(757,500)	(759,143)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(168,923)	(203,330)
Payment of dividends on common stock	(63,412)	(52,201)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase/stock option plans	10,838	38,869
Payments related to taxes on net settlement of stock options and restricted stock units	(8,823)	(44,488)
Other financing activities	(6,507)	(6,558)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	701,343	(43,335)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(10,880)	(13,900)
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH	(100,623)	88,495
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH:
Beginning of period	342,808	141,120
End of period	242,185	229,615
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	118,430	114,033
Income taxes	6,387	5,981
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	11,890	11,250
Operating lease modifications and reassessments	6,181	15,264
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities	$ 1,033	$ 893

XML

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, the actual amounts, when known, may vary from these estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net in the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit.

For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries, which are not denominated in U.S. dollars, are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Remeasurement gains and losses are reported as other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as settlement is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future. The Company recorded a $57.0 million loss and a $152.8 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $116.3 million of the intercompany loan. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $793.7 million and $909.8 million, respectively.

Reference Rate Reform

ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform, provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided by the amendments do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. An entity may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”) intends to cease the publication of USD LIBOR as follows: the 1 week and 2 month tenors on December 31, 2021 and all other tenors on June 30, 2023. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has not modified any contracts as a result of reference rate reform and is evaluating the impact this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

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Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

2.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis— The Company’s asset retirement obligations are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the asset retirement obligations is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Refer to Note 16 for discussion of the Company’s redeemable non-controlling interests.

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis— The Company’s long-lived and intangible assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. The Company considers many factors and makes certain assumptions when making this assessment, including, but not limited to: general market and economic conditions, historical operating results, geographic location, lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up. The fair value of the long-lived and intangible assets is calculated using a discounted cash flow model.

Asset impairment and decommission costs for all periods presented and the related impaired assets primarily relate to the Company’s site leasing operating segment. The following summarizes the activity of asset impairment and decommission costs (in thousands):

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Asset impairment (1)	$	3,156	$	11,009
Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers		1,327		2,699
Other (including third party decommission costs)		420		647
Total asset impairment and decommission costs	$	4,903	$	14,355

(1)Represents impairment charges resulting from the Company’s regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

The Company’s long term investments were $55.5 million and $57.6 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Some of these investments provide for the Company to increase their investment in the future through call options exercisable by the Company and put options exercisable by the investee. These put and call options are recorded at fair market value. The estimation of the fair value of the investment involves the use of Level 3 inputs. The Company evaluates these investments for indicators of impairment. The Company considers impairment indicators such as negative changes in industry and market conditions, financial performance, business prospects, and other relevant events and factors. If indicators exist and the fair value of the investment is below the carrying amount, the investment could be impaired.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments— The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, and short-term investments approximate their estimated fair values due to the shorter maturity of these instruments. The Company’s estimate of its short term investments are based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $0.7 million of short-term investments, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company purchased and sold $755.0 million of short-term investments.

The Company determines fair value of its debt instruments utilizing various Level 2 sources including quoted prices and indicative quotes (non-binding quotes) from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information including implied credit spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask prices. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility is considered to approximate the carrying value because the Company does not believe its credit risk has changed materially from the date the applicable Eurodollar Rate was set for the Revolving Credit Facility (112.5 to 175.0 basis points). Refer to Note 10 for the fair values, principal balances, and carrying values of the Company’s debt instruments.

For discussion of the Company’s derivatives and hedging activities, refer to Note 17.

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash [Abstract]

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

‎

3.CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH

The cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash balances on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows consist of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020		Included on Balance Sheet
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	176,622	$	308,560
Securitization escrow accounts		62,773		31,507	Restricted cash - current asset
Payment and performance bonds		153		164	Restricted cash - current asset
Surety bonds and workers compensation		2,637		2,577	Other assets - noncurrent
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	242,185	$	342,808

Pursuant to the terms of the Tower Securities (see Note 10), the Company is required to establish a securitization escrow account, held by the indenture trustee, into which all rents and other sums due on the towers that secure the Tower Securities are directly deposited by the lessees. These restricted cash amounts are used to fund reserve accounts for the payment of (1) debt service costs, (2) ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes and insurance premiums related to towers, (3) trustee and servicing expenses, and (4) management fees. The restricted cash in the securitization escrow account in excess of required reserve balances is subsequently released to the Borrowers (as defined in Note 10) monthly, provided that the Borrowers are in compliance with their debt service coverage ratio and that no event of default has occurred. All monies held by the indenture trustee are classified as restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Payment and performance bonds relate primarily to collateral requirements for tower construction currently in process by the Company. Cash is pledged as collateral related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and primarily related to the Company’s tower removal obligations. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $42.0 million and $41.8 million in surety and payment and performance bonds, respectively, for which no collateral was required to be posted. The Company periodically evaluates the collateral posted for its bonds to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had also pledged $2.3 million as collateral related to its workers’ compensation policy.

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Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts

4.COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

The Company’s costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	62,753	$	54,949
Estimated earnings		25,149		21,778
Billings to date		(51,333)		(43,725)
	$	36,569	$	33,002

These amounts are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	$	38,574	$	34,796
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on
uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities)		(2,005)		(1,794)
	$	36,569	$	33,002

As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the eight largest customers comprised 99.5% and 99.4%, respectively, of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings.

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Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets [Abstract]

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets

‎

5.PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS AND OTHER ASSETS

The Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
		(in thousands)
Prepaid ground rent	$	1,865	$	1,412
Prepaid real estate taxes		3,292		3,153
Prepaid taxes		6,179		8,121
Other current assets		14,304		11,189
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	25,640	$	23,875

The Company’s other assets are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
		(in thousands)
Straight-line rent receivable	$	318,107	$	321,816
Interest rate swap asset (1)		43,689		12,123
Loan receivables		5,304		5,931
Deferred lease costs, net		5,029		4,788
Deferred tax asset - long term		71,494		53,722
Long-term investments		55,523		57,575
Other		21,748		22,037
Total other assets	$	520,894	$	477,992

(1)Refer to Note 17 for more information on the Company’s interest rate swaps.

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Acquisitions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Acquisitions

6.ACQUISITIONS

The following table summarizes the Company’s acquisition activity:

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
	(in thousands)
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets	$	101,630	$	82,274
Acquisition of right-of-use assets (1)		945,915		—
Land buyouts and other assets (2)		5,131		7,257
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures	$	1,052,676	$	89,531

(1)On February 16, 2021, the Company acquired the exclusive right to lease and operate 697 utility transmission structures, which included existing wireless tenant licenses from PG&E for $954.0 million. The difference between the agreed upon purchase price of $954.0 million and the cash acquisition amount is due to working capital adjustments. The Company accounted for the payment with respect to these sites as a right-of-use asset, which is recorded in Acquired and other right of use assets, net on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The payments associated with the right of use of these structures has been fully funded and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 70 years.

(2)In addition, the Company paid $2.8 million and $1.7 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company allocated the purchase price of 34 acquired towers and related assets and liabilities consisting of $2.2 million of property and equipment, $21.1 million of intangible assets, and $78.4 million of other net assets and liabilities assumed. In the three months ended March 31, 2021, all acquisitions were accounted for as asset acquisitions.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company acquired 17 tower and related assets for $6.0 million in cash.

The maximum potential obligation related to contingent consideration for acquisitions was $18.3 million and $35.0 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. No such amounts have been recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

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Property and Equipment, Net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Property and Equipment, Net [Abstract]

Property and Equipment, Net

7.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment, net consists of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Towers and related components	$	5,204,880	$	5,213,019
Construction-in-process (1)		34,040		38,065
Furniture, equipment, and vehicles		54,270		54,610
Land, buildings, and improvements		821,752		818,272
Total property and equipment		6,114,942		6,123,966
Less: accumulated depreciation		(3,506,416)		(3,446,640)
Property and equipment, net	$	2,608,526	$	2,677,326

(1)Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s site leasing operations.

Depreciation expense was $71.5 million and $71.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. At March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, unpaid capital expenditures that are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses were $5.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

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Intangible Assets, Net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]

Intangible Assets, Net

8.INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:

	As of March 31, 2021						As of December 31, 2020
	Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book		Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book
	amount		amortization		value		amount		amortization		value
	(in thousands)
Current contract intangibles	$	4,794,137	$	(2,520,675)	$	2,273,462	$	4,876,880	$	(2,471,438)	$	2,405,442
Network location intangibles		1,754,579		(1,043,943)		710,636		1,770,944		(1,020,236)		750,708
Intangible assets, net	$	6,548,716	$	(3,564,618)	$	2,984,098	$	6,647,824	$	(3,491,674)	$	3,156,150

All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s site leasing segment. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets above was $109.8 million and $110.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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Accrued Expenses

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accrued Expenses [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses

9.ACCRUED EXPENSES

The Company’s accrued expenses are comprised of the following:

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Salaries and benefits	$	15,046	$	20,958
Real estate and property taxes		9,178		9,583
Unpaid capital expenditures		5,330		6,073
Other		27,664		26,417
Total accrued expenses	$	57,218	$	63,031

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Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Debt [Abstract]

Debt

10.DEBT

The principal values, fair values, and carrying values of debt consist of the following (in thousands):

		As of						As of
		March 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Maturity Date	Principal ‎Balance		Fair Value		Carrying ‎Value		Principal ‎Balance		Fair Value		Carrying ‎Value
Revolving Credit Facility	Apr. 11, 2023	$	590,000	$	590,000	$	590,000	$	380,000	$	380,000	$	380,000
2018 Term Loan	Apr. 11, 2025		2,334,000		2,301,908		2,320,200		2,340,000		2,310,750		2,325,391
2013-2C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 11, 2023		575,000		590,841		572,370		575,000		599,662		572,063
2014-2C Tower Securities (1)	Oct. 8, 2024		620,000		655,185		616,368		620,000		670,003		616,131
2017-1C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 11, 2022		760,000		767,532		757,703		760,000		774,410		757,165
2018-1C Tower Securities (1)	Mar. 9, 2023		640,000		660,928		636,481		640,000		671,341		636,045
2019-1C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 12, 2025		1,165,000		1,192,249		1,155,684		1,165,000		1,218,613		1,155,106
2020-1C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 9, 2026		750,000		734,505		743,050		750,000		752,910		742,782
2020-2C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 11, 2028		600,000		571,254		594,215		600,000		597,840		594,081
2016 Senior Notes	Sep. 1, 2024		1,100,000		1,124,871		1,089,616		1,100,000		1,127,500		1,088,924
2017 Senior Notes	Oct. 1, 2022		—		—		—		750,000		757,500		746,642
2020 Senior Notes	Feb. 15, 2027		1,500,000		1,533,975		1,482,131		1,500,000		1,567,500		1,481,466
2021 Senior Notes	Feb. 1, 2029		1,500,000		1,445,625		1,485,939		—		—		—
Total debt		$	12,134,000	$	12,168,873	$	12,043,757	$	11,180,000	$	11,428,029	$	11,095,796
Less: current maturities of long-term debt							(24,000)						(24,000)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities						$	12,019,757					$	11,071,796

(1)The maturity date represents the anticipated repayment date for each issuance.

The table below reflects cash and non-cash interest expense amounts recognized by debt instrument for the periods presented:

	Interest	For the three months ended March 31,
	Rates as of	2021				2020
	March 31,	Cash		Non-cash		Cash		Non-cash
	2021	Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest
Revolving Credit Facility	1.590%	$	2,148	$	—	$	2,714	$	—
2018 Term Loan (1)	1.872%		10,997		11,434		22,203		2,022
2013-2C Tower Securities	3.722%		5,396		—		5,396		—
2014-2C Tower Securities	3.869%		6,046		—		6,046		—
2015-1C Tower Securities	3.156%		—		—		3,985		—
2016-1C Tower Securities	2.877%		—		—		5,090		—
2017-1C Tower Securities	3.168%		6,085		—		6,085		—
2018-1C Tower Securities	3.448%		5,570		—		5,570		—
2019-1C Tower Securities	2.836%		8,357		—		8,357		—
2020-1C Tower Securities	1.884%		3,598		—		—		—
2020-2C Tower Securities	2.328%		3,540		—		—		—
2014 Senior Notes	4.875%		—		—		3,352		112
2016 Senior Notes	4.875%		13,406		286		13,406		272
2017 Senior Notes	4.000%		2,333		—		7,500		—
2020 Senior Notes	3.875%		14,531		84		6,135		—
2021 Senior Notes	3.125%		8,073		—		—		—
Other			15		—		12		—
Total		$	90,095	$	11,804	$	95,851	$	2,406

(1)The 2018 Term Loan has a blended rate of 1.872%, which includes the impact of the interest rate swap entered into on August 4, 2020, which swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. Excluding the impact of the interest rate swap, the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 1.860% as of March 31, 2021. Refer to Note 17 for more information on the Company’s interest rate swap.

Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company borrowed $710.0 million and repaid $500.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2021, the balance outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility was $590.0 million accruing interest at 1.590% per annum. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II LLC, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (“SBA Senior Finance II”) was required to pay a commitment fee of 0.20% per annum on the amount of the unused commitment. As of March 31, 2021, SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $95.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of the date of this filing, $495.0 million was outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Term Loan under the Senior Credit Agreement

During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid an aggregate of $6.0 million of principal on the 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2021, the 2018 Term Loan had a principal balance of $2.3 billion.

Secured Tower Revenue Securities

As of March 31, 2021, the entities that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”) met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement. The sole asset of the Trust (defined below) consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of the Borrowers.

2021-1C Tower Securities

On April 29, 2021, the Company, through the Trust, priced $1.165 billion of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2021-1C which have an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2026 and a final maturity date of May 9, 2051 (the “2021-1C Tower Securities”). This transaction is expected to close May 14, 2021. The 2021-1C Tower Securities have a fixed interest rate of 1.631% per annum, payable monthly. In addition, to satisfy certain risk retention requirements of Regulation RR promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), SBA Guarantor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, will purchase $61.4 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2021-1R issued by the Trust. These securities have an anticipated repayment date of November 9, 2026 and a final maturity date of May 9, 2051 (the “2021-1R Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate on the 2021-1R Tower Securities is 3.625% per annum, payable monthly. Principal and interest payments made on the 2021-1R Tower Securities will eliminate in consolidation.

Net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay the entire aggregate principal amount of the 2017-1C Tower Securities ($760.0 million) and the Secured Tower Revenue Securities, Series 2017-1R ($40.0 million) and for general corporate purposes.

Senior Notes

2021 Senior Notes

On January 29, 2021, the Company issued $1.5 billion of unsecured senior notes due February 1, 2029 at par value (the “2021 Senior Notes”). The 2021 Senior Notes accrue interest at a rate of 3.125% per annum. Interest on the 2021 Senior Notes is due semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2021. The Company incurred financing fees of $14.3 million to date in relation to this transaction, which are being amortized through the maturity date. Net proceeds from this offering were used to redeem all of the outstanding principal amount of the 2017 Senior Notes, repay the amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, and for general corporate purposes.

The 2021 Senior Notes are subject to redemption in whole or in part on or after February 1, 2024 at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture agreement plus accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to February 1, 2024, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2021 Senior Notes originally issued at a redemption price of 103.125% of the principal amount of the 2021 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest with the net proceeds of certain equity offerings. The Company may redeem the 2021 Senior Notes during the twelve-month period beginning on the following dates at the following redemption prices: February 1, 2024 at 101.563%, February 1, 2025 at 100.781%, or February 1,

2026 until maturity at 100.000%, of the principal amount of the 2021 Senior Notes to be redeemed on the redemption date plus accrued and unpaid interest.

2017 Senior Notes

On February 11, 2021, the Company redeemed the entire $750.0 million balance of the 2017 Senior Notes with proceeds from the 2021 Senior Notes. In addition, the Company paid a $7.5 million call premium and expensed $4.2 million for the write-off of financing fees related to the redemption of the 2017 Senior Notes, which are reflected in loss from extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

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Shareholders' Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity

11.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock Equivalents

The Company has outstanding stock options, time-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) which were considered in the Company’s diluted earnings per share calculation (see Note 15).

Registration of Additional Shares

On February 26, 2021, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an automatic shelf registration statement for well-known seasoned issuers on Form S-3, which enables the Company to issue shares of its Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, or depositary shares as well as units that include any of these securities. The Company will file a prospectus supplement containing the amount and type of securities each time it issues securities under its automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3. No securities were issued under this automatic shelf registration statement through the date of this filing.

Stock Repurchases

The Company’s Board of Directors authorizes the Company to purchase, from time to time, outstanding Class A common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management’s discretion based on market and business conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Once authorized, the repurchase plan has no time deadline and will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by the Company’s Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion. Shares repurchased are retired. On November 2, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $1.0 billion stock repurchase plan, replacing the prior plan authorized on July 29, 2019, which had a remaining authorization of $124.3 million. As of the date of this filing, the Company had $475.1 million authorization remaining under the new plan.

The following is a summary of the Company’s share repurchases:

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Total number of shares purchased (in millions) (1)		0.7		0.8
Average price paid per share (1)	$	258.33	$	242.86
Total price paid (in millions) (1)	$	168.9	$	200.0

(1)Amounts are calculated based on the trade date and differ from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, which calculate share repurchases based on the settlement date.

Dividends

As of March 31, 2021, the Company paid the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders
	of Record At the Close	Cash Paid	Aggregate Amount
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Paid	Date Paid
February 19, 2021	March 10, 2021	$0.58	$63.4 million	March 26, 2021

Dividends paid in 2021 and 2020 were ordinary income.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company declared the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders	Cash to
	of Record At the Close	be Paid
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Date to be Paid
April 26, 2021	May 20, 2021	$0.58	June 15, 2021

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Stock-Based Compensation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation

12.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Options

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as follows (dollars and shares in thousands, except for per share data):

		Weighted-		Weighted-Average
		Average		Remaining
	Number	Exercise Price		Contractual	Aggregate
	of Shares	Per Share		Life (in years)	Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	3,202	$	143.01
Exercised	(70)	$	122.72
Forfeited/canceled	(7)	$	173.81
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	3,125	$	143.39	3.5	$	419,128
Exercisable at March 31, 2021	2,371	$	132.98	3.2	$	342,849
Unvested at March 31, 2021	754	$	176.21	4.7	$	76,279

The total intrinsic value for options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $9.5 million.

Restricted Stock Units and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the Company’s RSU and PSU activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

	RSUs			PSUs
		Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average
	Number of	Grant Date Fair		Number of	Grant Date Fair
	Shares	Value per Share		Shares	Value per Share
	(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2020 (1)	274	$	206.48	148	$	376.48
Granted (1)	101	$	235.92	153	$	236.48
Vested	(122)	$	185.34	—	$	—
Forfeited/canceled	(3)	$	224.37	(1)	$	376.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	250	$	228.47	300	$	304.80

(1)PSUs represent the target number of shares granted that are issuable at the end of the three year performance period. Fair value for a portion of the PSUs was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

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Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Taxes

13.INCOME TAXES

The primary reasons for the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the U.S. statutory rate are the Company’s REIT election and the Company’s full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets of the U.S. taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). The TRS has concluded that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized and has recorded a full valuation allowance. A foreign tax provision is recognized because certain foreign subsidiaries of the Company have profitable operations or are in a net deferred tax liability position.

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2016. As a REIT, the Company generally will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that it pays, and therefore, not subject to U.S. federal corporate

income tax on that portion of its net income that it distributes to its shareholders. As a REIT, the Company will continue to pay U.S. federal income tax on earnings, if any, from assets and operations held through its TRSs. These assets and operations currently consist primarily of the Company’s site development services and its international operations. The Company’s international operations would continue to be subject, as applicable, to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those operations are located. The Company may also be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property, and other taxes on its assets and operations. The Company’s determination as to the timing and amount of future dividend distributions will be based on a number of factors, including REIT distribution requirements, its existing federal net operating losses (“NOLs”) of approximately $651.1 million as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s financial condition, earnings, debt covenants, and other possible uses of such funds. The Company may use these NOLs to offset its REIT taxable income, and thus any required distributions to shareholders may be reduced or eliminated until such time as the NOLs have been fully utilized.

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Segment Data

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Segment Data [Abstract]

Segment Data

14.SEGMENT DATA

The Company operates principally in two business segments: site leasing and site development. The Company’s site leasing business includes two reportable segments, domestic site leasing and international site leasing. The Company’s business segments are strategic business units that offer different services. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. The site leasing segment includes results of the managed and sublease businesses. The site development segment includes the results of both consulting and construction related activities. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker utilizes segment operating profit and operating income as his two measures of segment profit in assessing performance and allocating resources at the reportable segment level. The Company has applied the aggregation criteria to operations within the international site leasing segment on a basis that is consistent with management’s review of information and performance evaluations of the individual markets in this region.

Revenues, cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization), capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company continues to operate are presented below.

	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Other		Total
For the three months ended March 31, 2021	(in thousands)
Revenues	$	403,579	$	101,524	$	43,636	$	—	$	548,739
Cost of revenues (1)		65,120		30,248		34,406		—		129,774
Operating profit		338,459		71,276		9,230		—		418,965
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		28,056		7,760		5,789		9,996		51,601
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		3,332		1,669		—		—		5,001
Asset impairment and decommission costs		3,871		1,032		—		—		4,903
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		137,054		43,121		2,082		1,624		183,881
Operating income (loss)		166,146		17,694		1,359		(11,620)		173,579
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other expense)								(206,246)		(206,246)
Loss before income taxes										(32,667)
Cash capital expenditures (2)		1,059,678		16,947		870		750		1,078,245
For the three months ended March 31, 2020
Revenues	$	386,345	$	106,011	$	24,711	$	—	$	517,067
Cost of revenues (1)		63,905		31,894		19,715		—		115,514
Operating profit		322,440		74,117		4,996		—		401,553
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		27,323		7,931		4,456		9,907		49,617
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		2,597		1,202		—		—		3,799
Asset impairment and decommission costs		10,826		3,529		—		—		14,355
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		133,806		46,612		616		1,545		182,579
Operating income (loss)		147,888		14,843		(76)		(11,452)		151,203
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other expense)								(345,674)		(345,674)
Loss before income taxes										(194,471)
Cash capital expenditures (2)		101,306		26,433		782		1,194		129,715

	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Other (3)		Total
Assets	(in thousands)
As of March 31, 2021	$	6,776,019	$	2,696,652	$	81,127	$	209,662	$	9,763,460
As of December 31, 2020	$	5,893,636	$	2,955,563	$	61,729	$	247,090	$	9,158,018

(1)Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

(2)Includes cash paid for capital expenditures, acquisitions, and right-of-use assets.

(3)Assets in Other consist primarily of general corporate assets and short-term investments.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, site leasing revenue in Brazil was $55.4 million and $63.1 million, respectively. Other than Brazil, no foreign country represented a material amount of the Company’s total revenues in any of the periods presented. Total long-lived assets in Brazil were $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

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Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

15.EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for each respective period. Diluted earnings per share was calculated by dividing net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding adjusted for any dilutive Common Stock equivalents, including unvested RSUs, PSUs, and shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as determined under the “Treasury Stock” method.

The following table sets forth basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except per share data):

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation	$	(11,745)	$	(127,058)
Denominator:
Basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		109,469		111,908
Net loss per common share attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation:
Basic	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)
Diluted	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, all potential common stock equivalents, including 3.1 million shares underlying stock options outstanding, 0.3 million shares underlying RSUs outstanding, and 0.3 million shares underlying PSUs outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, all potential common stock equivalents, including 3.7 million shares underlying stock options outstanding, 0.3 million shares underlying RSUs outstanding, and 0.1 million shares underlying PSUs outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

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Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Abstract]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests

16. REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

As a result of its acquisition of additional interests of a previously unconsolidated joint venture in South Africa which operated under the name Atlas Tower South Africa (“Atlas SA”), the Company has consolidated the results of the entity into its financial statements since August 2019. In connection with the acquisition of the additional interest in Atlas SA, the parties agreed to both a put option exercisable by the noncontrolling interest holder and a call option exercisable by the Company for the remaining 6% minority interest based on a formulaic approach. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company noticed its intent to exercise its call option to acquire its remaining 6% interest in the joint venture. On March 25, 2021, the Company remitted $13.7 million to the seller as closing consideration for the remaining 6% interest in the joint venture, subject to an earnout in September 2021 based on the attainment of certain future performance metrics. The parties are currently in litigation regarding various issues arising in connection

with the closing of the transaction. Consequently, the Company is retaining the fair value of the acquired 6% noncontrolling interest in Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests until such time as the litigation is resolved.

The fair value assigned to the redeemable noncontrolling interest as of March 31, 2021 is based on the contractually-defined redemption value, which was delivered as closing consideration for the remaining 6% interest. In accordance with the terms of the call option, the amount of closing consideration was fixed upon exercise of the call option. The redeemable noncontrolling interest is recognized at the higher of (1) the initial carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest as adjusted for accumulated income or loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder, or (2) the contractually-defined redemption value as of the balance sheet date. Adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest are charged against retained earnings (or additional paid-in capital if there are no retained earnings). As of March 31, 2021, the loss attributable to the 6% interest was immaterial.

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Derivatives and Hedging Activities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Derivatives and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

17.DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company enters into interest rate swaps to hedge the future interest expense from variable rate debt and reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. On August 4, 2020, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II, terminated its existing $1.95 billion cash flow hedge on a portion of its 2018 Term Loan in exchange for a payment of $176.2 million. On the same date, the Company entered into an interest rate swap for $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. The Company designated this interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge as it is expected to be highly effective at offsetting changes in cash flows of the LIBOR based component interest payments of its 2018 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2021, the hedge remains highly effective; therefore, subsequent changes in the fair value are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the interest rate swap has a fair value of $43.7 million and $12.1 million respectively, and is recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On August 4, 2020, the Company also terminated its existing interest rate swaps, which were previously de-designated as cash flow hedges. There was no cash transferred in connection with the termination of these swaps. The Company reclassifies the fair value of its interest rate swaps recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net on their de-designation date to non-cash interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations over their respective remaining term end dates, which range from 2023 to 2025.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net includes an aggregate of $98.1 million and $140.9 million of accumulated derivative net losses as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

The Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk to the extent that a counterparty fails to meet the terms of a contract. The Company’s exposure is limited to the current value of the contract at the time the counterparty fails to perform.

The cash flows associated with these activities are reported in Net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows with the exception of the termination of interest rate swaps, which are recorded in Net cash used in financing activities.

The table below outlines the effects of the Company’s derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Cash Flow Hedge - Interest Rate Swap Agreement	(in thousands)
Change in fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	$	31,566	$	(107,882)
Amount recognized in Non-cash interest expense	$	—	$	(2,822)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements
Amount reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive
loss, net into Non-cash interest expense	$	11,221	$	4,642
Change in fair value recorded in Other income (expense), net	$	—	$	3,966

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Basis of Presentation (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, the actual amounts, when known, may vary from these estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net in the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit.

For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries, which are not denominated in U.S. dollars, are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Remeasurement gains and losses are reported as other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement

Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as settlement is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future. The Company recorded a $57.0 million loss and a $152.8 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repaid $116.3 million of the intercompany loan. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $793.7 million and $909.8 million, respectively.

Reference Rate Reform

Reference Rate ReformASU 2020-04 and ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform, provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The expedients and exceptions provided by the amendments do not apply to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated after December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of December 31, 2022, that an entity has elected certain optional expedients for and that are retained through the end of the hedging relationship. An entity may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (“IBA”) intends to cease the publication of USD LIBOR as follows: the 1 week and 2 month tenors on December 31, 2021 and all other tenors on June 30, 2023. As of March 31, 2021, the Company has not modified any contracts as a result of reference rate reform and is evaluating the impact this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

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Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Summary of Asset Impairment and Decommission Costs

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Asset impairment (1)	$	3,156	$	11,009
Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers		1,327		2,699
Other (including third party decommission costs)		420		647
Total asset impairment and decommission costs	$	4,903	$	14,355

(1)Represents impairment charges resulting from the Company’s regular analysis of whether the future cash flows from certain towers are adequate to recover the carrying value of the investment in those towers.

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash [Abstract]

Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020		Included on Balance Sheet
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	176,622	$	308,560
Securitization escrow accounts		62,773		31,507	Restricted cash - current asset
Payment and performance bonds		153		164	Restricted cash - current asset
Surety bonds and workers compensation		2,637		2,577	Other assets - noncurrent
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	242,185	$	342,808

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Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]

Summary of Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	62,753	$	54,949
Estimated earnings		25,149		21,778
Billings to date		(51,333)		(43,725)
	$	36,569	$	33,002

Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts Accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	$	38,574	$	34,796
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on
uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities)		(2,005)		(1,794)
	$	36,569	$	33,002

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Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets [Abstract]

Schedule of Prepaid Expense and Other Current Assets

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
		(in thousands)
Prepaid ground rent	$	1,865	$	1,412
Prepaid real estate taxes		3,292		3,153
Prepaid taxes		6,179		8,121
Other current assets		14,304		11,189
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	25,640	$	23,875

Schedule of Other Assets

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
		(in thousands)
Straight-line rent receivable	$	318,107	$	321,816
Interest rate swap asset (1)		43,689		12,123
Loan receivables		5,304		5,931
Deferred lease costs, net		5,029		4,788
Deferred tax asset - long term		71,494		53,722
Long-term investments		55,523		57,575
Other		21,748		22,037
Total other assets	$	520,894	$	477,992

(1)Refer to Note 17 for more information on the Company’s interest rate swaps.

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Acquisitions (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Schedule of Acquisition Capital Expenditures

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
	(in thousands)
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets	$	101,630	$	82,274
Acquisition of right-of-use assets (1)		945,915		—
Land buyouts and other assets (2)		5,131		7,257
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures	$	1,052,676	$	89,531

(1)On February 16, 2021, the Company acquired the exclusive right to lease and operate 697 utility transmission structures, which included existing wireless tenant licenses from PG&E for $954.0 million. The difference between the agreed upon purchase price of $954.0 million and the cash acquisition amount is due to working capital adjustments. The Company accounted for the payment with respect to these sites as a right-of-use asset, which is recorded in Acquired and other right of use assets, net on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The payments associated with the right of use of these structures has been fully funded and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 70 years.

(2)In addition, the Company paid $2.8 million and $1.7 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Property and Equipment, Net [Abstract]

Property and Equipment, Net (Including Assets Held Under Capital Leases)

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Towers and related components	$	5,204,880	$	5,213,019
Construction-in-process (1)		34,040		38,065
Furniture, equipment, and vehicles		54,270		54,610
Land, buildings, and improvements		821,752		818,272
Total property and equipment		6,114,942		6,123,966
Less: accumulated depreciation		(3,506,416)		(3,446,640)
Property and equipment, net	$	2,608,526	$	2,677,326

(1)Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s site leasing operations.

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Intangible Assets, Net (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]

Gross and Net Carrying Amounts for each Major Class of Intangible Assets

	As of March 31, 2021						As of December 31, 2020
	Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book		Gross carrying		Accumulated		Net book
	amount		amortization		value		amount		amortization		value
	(in thousands)
Current contract intangibles	$	4,794,137	$	(2,520,675)	$	2,273,462	$	4,876,880	$	(2,471,438)	$	2,405,442
Network location intangibles		1,754,579		(1,043,943)		710,636		1,770,944		(1,020,236)		750,708
Intangible assets, net	$	6,548,716	$	(3,564,618)	$	2,984,098	$	6,647,824	$	(3,491,674)	$	3,156,150

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Accrued Expenses (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Accrued Expenses [Abstract]

Schedule of Accrued Expenses

	As of		As of
	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
	(in thousands)
Salaries and benefits	$	15,046	$	20,958
Real estate and property taxes		9,178		9,583
Unpaid capital expenditures		5,330		6,073
Other		27,664		26,417
Total accrued expenses	$	57,218	$	63,031

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Debt (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Debt [Abstract]

Schedule of Principal Values, Fair Values, and Carrying Values of Debt

		As of						As of
		March 31, 2021						December 31, 2020
	Maturity Date	Principal ‎Balance		Fair Value		Carrying ‎Value		Principal ‎Balance		Fair Value		Carrying ‎Value
Revolving Credit Facility	Apr. 11, 2023	$	590,000	$	590,000	$	590,000	$	380,000	$	380,000	$	380,000
2018 Term Loan	Apr. 11, 2025		2,334,000		2,301,908		2,320,200		2,340,000		2,310,750		2,325,391
2013-2C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 11, 2023		575,000		590,841		572,370		575,000		599,662		572,063
2014-2C Tower Securities (1)	Oct. 8, 2024		620,000		655,185		616,368		620,000		670,003		616,131
2017-1C Tower Securities (1)	Apr. 11, 2022		760,000		767,532		757,703		760,000		774,410		757,165
2018-1C Tower Securities (1)	Mar. 9, 2023		640,000		660,928		636,481		640,000		671,341		636,045
2019-1C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 12, 2025		1,165,000		1,192,249		1,155,684		1,165,000		1,218,613		1,155,106
2020-1C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 9, 2026		750,000		734,505		743,050		750,000		752,910		742,782
2020-2C Tower Securities (1)	Jan. 11, 2028		600,000		571,254		594,215		600,000		597,840		594,081
2016 Senior Notes	Sep. 1, 2024		1,100,000		1,124,871		1,089,616		1,100,000		1,127,500		1,088,924
2017 Senior Notes	Oct. 1, 2022		—		—		—		750,000		757,500		746,642
2020 Senior Notes	Feb. 15, 2027		1,500,000		1,533,975		1,482,131		1,500,000		1,567,500		1,481,466
2021 Senior Notes	Feb. 1, 2029		1,500,000		1,445,625		1,485,939		—		—		—
Total debt		$	12,134,000	$	12,168,873	$	12,043,757	$	11,180,000	$	11,428,029	$	11,095,796
Less: current maturities of long-term debt							(24,000)						(24,000)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities						$	12,019,757					$	11,071,796

(1)The maturity date represents the anticipated repayment date for each issuance.

Schedule of Cash and Non-Cash Interest Expense

	Interest	For the three months ended March 31,
	Rates as of	2021				2020
	March 31,	Cash		Non-cash		Cash		Non-cash
	2021	Interest		Interest		Interest		Interest
Revolving Credit Facility	1.590%	$	2,148	$	—	$	2,714	$	—
2018 Term Loan (1)	1.872%		10,997		11,434		22,203		2,022
2013-2C Tower Securities	3.722%		5,396		—		5,396		—
2014-2C Tower Securities	3.869%		6,046		—		6,046		—
2015-1C Tower Securities	3.156%		—		—		3,985		—
2016-1C Tower Securities	2.877%		—		—		5,090		—
2017-1C Tower Securities	3.168%		6,085		—		6,085		—
2018-1C Tower Securities	3.448%		5,570		—		5,570		—
2019-1C Tower Securities	2.836%		8,357		—		8,357		—
2020-1C Tower Securities	1.884%		3,598		—		—		—
2020-2C Tower Securities	2.328%		3,540		—		—		—
2014 Senior Notes	4.875%		—		—		3,352		112
2016 Senior Notes	4.875%		13,406		286		13,406		272
2017 Senior Notes	4.000%		2,333		—		7,500		—
2020 Senior Notes	3.875%		14,531		84		6,135		—
2021 Senior Notes	3.125%		8,073		—		—		—
Other			15		—		12		—
Total		$	90,095	$	11,804	$	95,851	$	2,406

(1)The 2018 Term Loan has a blended rate of 1.872%, which includes the impact of the interest rate swap entered into on August 4, 2020, which swapped $1.95 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month LIBOR plus 175 basis points for a fixed rate of 1.874% per annum through the maturity date of the 2018 Term Loan. Excluding the impact of the interest rate swap, the 2018 Term Loan was accruing interest at 1.860% as of March 31, 2021. Refer to Note 17 for more information on the Company’s interest rate swap.

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Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]

Summary of Share Repurchases

The following is a summary of the Company’s share repurchases:

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Total number of shares purchased (in millions) (1)		0.7		0.8
Average price paid per share (1)	$	258.33	$	242.86
Total price paid (in millions) (1)	$	168.9	$	200.0

(1)Amounts are calculated based on the trade date and differ from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, which calculate share repurchases based on the settlement date.

Schedule of Dividends Paid and Dividends Declared

As of March 31, 2021, the Company paid the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders
	of Record At the Close	Cash Paid	Aggregate Amount
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Paid	Date Paid
February 19, 2021	March 10, 2021	$0.58	$63.4 million	March 26, 2021

Dividends paid in 2021 and 2020 were ordinary income.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company declared the following cash dividends:

	Payable to Shareholders	Cash to
	of Record At the Close	be Paid
Date Declared	of Business on	Per Share	Date to be Paid
April 26, 2021	May 20, 2021	$0.58	June 15, 2021

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Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Summary of Stock Option Activity

		Weighted-		Weighted-Average
		Average		Remaining
	Number	Exercise Price		Contractual	Aggregate
	of Shares	Per Share		Life (in years)	Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2020	3,202	$	143.01
Exercised	(70)	$	122.72
Forfeited/canceled	(7)	$	173.81
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	3,125	$	143.39	3.5	$	419,128
Exercisable at March 31, 2021	2,371	$	132.98	3.2	$	342,849
Unvested at March 31, 2021	754	$	176.21	4.7	$	76,279

Summary of Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Based Restricted Stock Unit Activity

	RSUs			PSUs
		Weighted-Average			Weighted-Average
	Number of	Grant Date Fair		Number of	Grant Date Fair
	Shares	Value per Share		Shares	Value per Share
	(in thousands)			(in thousands)
Outstanding at December 31, 2020 (1)	274	$	206.48	148	$	376.48
Granted (1)	101	$	235.92	153	$	236.48
Vested	(122)	$	185.34	—	$	—
Forfeited/canceled	(3)	$	224.37	(1)	$	376.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2021	250	$	228.47	300	$	304.80

(1)PSUs represent the target number of shares granted that are issuable at the end of the three year performance period. Fair value for a portion of the PSUs was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

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Segment Data (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Segment Data [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information

	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Other		Total
For the three months ended March 31, 2021	(in thousands)
Revenues	$	403,579	$	101,524	$	43,636	$	—	$	548,739
Cost of revenues (1)		65,120		30,248		34,406		—		129,774
Operating profit		338,459		71,276		9,230		—		418,965
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		28,056		7,760		5,789		9,996		51,601
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		3,332		1,669		—		—		5,001
Asset impairment and decommission costs		3,871		1,032		—		—		4,903
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		137,054		43,121		2,082		1,624		183,881
Operating income (loss)		166,146		17,694		1,359		(11,620)		173,579
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other expense)								(206,246)		(206,246)
Loss before income taxes										(32,667)
Cash capital expenditures (2)		1,059,678		16,947		870		750		1,078,245
For the three months ended March 31, 2020
Revenues	$	386,345	$	106,011	$	24,711	$	—	$	517,067
Cost of revenues (1)		63,905		31,894		19,715		—		115,514
Operating profit		322,440		74,117		4,996		—		401,553
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		27,323		7,931		4,456		9,907		49,617
Acquisition and new business initiatives
related adjustments and expenses		2,597		1,202		—		—		3,799
Asset impairment and decommission costs		10,826		3,529		—		—		14,355
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		133,806		46,612		616		1,545		182,579
Operating income (loss)		147,888		14,843		(76)		(11,452)		151,203
Other expense (principally interest expense
and other expense)								(345,674)		(345,674)
Loss before income taxes										(194,471)
Cash capital expenditures (2)		101,306		26,433		782		1,194		129,715

	Domestic Site		Int'l Site		Site
	Leasing		Leasing		Development		Other (3)		Total
Assets	(in thousands)
As of March 31, 2021	$	6,776,019	$	2,696,652	$	81,127	$	209,662	$	9,763,460
As of December 31, 2020	$	5,893,636	$	2,955,563	$	61,729	$	247,090	$	9,158,018

(1)Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion.

(2)Includes cash paid for capital expenditures, acquisitions, and right-of-use assets.

(3)Assets in Other consist primarily of general corporate assets and short-term investments.

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Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation	$	(11,745)	$	(127,058)
Denominator:
Basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding		109,469		111,908
Net loss per common share attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation:
Basic	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)
Diluted	$	(0.11)	$	(1.14)

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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Derivatives and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Schedule of Effect of Derivatives on the Consolidated Statements of Operations

	For the three months
	ended March 31,
	2021		2020
Cash Flow Hedge - Interest Rate Swap Agreement	(in thousands)
Change in fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	$	31,566	$	(107,882)
Amount recognized in Non-cash interest expense	$	—	$	(2,822)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges - Interest Rate Swap Agreements
Amount reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive
loss, net into Non-cash interest expense	$	11,221	$	4,642
Change in fair value recorded in Other income (expense), net	$	—	$	3,966

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Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loan	$ (57.0)	$ (152.8)
Intercompany foreign currency outstanding balance	793.7		$ 909.8
Repayment of debt	$ 116.3

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Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term investments	$ 55,523	$ 57,575
Short-term investments	700	$ 700
Purchase of short-term investments	755,000
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	$ 755,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.125%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.75%

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Fair Value Measurements (Summary of Asset Impairment and Decommission Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Asset impairment	$ 3,156	$ 11,009
Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers	1,327	2,699
Other (including third party decommission costs)	420	647
Total asset impairment and decommission costs	$ 4,903	$ 14,355

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Surety, payment and performance bonds	$ 42,000,000.0	$ 41,800,000
Collateral payment for performance bonds	0	0
Workers Compensation Policy [Member]
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Collateral	$ 2,300,000	$ 2,300,000

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Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash (Schedule of Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 176,622	$ 308,560
Restricted cash - current asset	62,926	31,671
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	242,185	342,808	$ 229,615	$ 141,120
Securitization Escrow Accounts [Member] | Restricted Cash - Current Asset [Member]
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash - current asset	62,773	31,507
Payment and Performance Bonds [Member] | Restricted Cash - Current Asset [Member]
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash - current asset	153	164
Surety Bonds and Workers Compensation [Member] | Other Assets - Noncurrent [Member]
Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Restricted cash - noncurrent asset	$ 2,637	$ 2,577

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Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts (Narrative) (Details) - Customer Concentration Risk [Member] - Contract with Customer [Member] - customer	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of significant customers	8	8
Eight Largest Customers [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	99.50%	99.40%

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Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts (Summary of Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$ 62,753	$ 54,949
Estimated earnings	25,149	21,778
Billings to date	(51,333)	(43,725)
Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	$ 36,569	$ 33,002

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Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts (Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts Accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Costs and Estimated Earnings on Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	$ 38,574	$ 34,796
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities)	(2,005)	(1,794)
Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	$ 36,569	$ 33,002

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Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets (Schedule of Prepaid Expense and Other Current Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets [Abstract]
Prepaid ground rent	$ 1,865	$ 1,412
Prepaid real estate taxes	3,292	3,153
Prepaid taxes	6,179	8,121
Other current assets	14,304	11,189
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets	$ 25,640	$ 23,875

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Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets (Schedule of Other Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and Other Assets [Abstract]
Straight-line rent receivable	$ 318,107	$ 321,816
Interest rate swap asset	43,689	12,123
Loan receivables	5,304	5,931
Deferred lease costs, net	5,029	4,788
Deferred tax asset - long term	71,494	53,722
Long-term investments	55,523	57,575
Other	21,748	22,037
Total other assets	$ 520,894	$ 477,992

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Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 06, 2021 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Performance targets, maximum potential obligation		$ 18.3	$ 35.0
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item		34
Property and equipment		$ 2.2
Intangible assets		21.1
Other net assets and liabilities assumed		$ 78.4
Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item	17
Cash paid for acquisition	$ 6.0

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Acquisitions (Schedule of Acquisition Capital Expenditures) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 16, 2021 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisitions of towers and related intangible assets		$ 101,630	$ 82,274
Acquisition of right-of-use assets		945,915
Land buyouts and other assets		5,131	7,257
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures		1,052,676	89,531
Ground lease extensions		$ 2,800	$ 1,700
Exclusive Right to Lease and Operate Utility Transmission Structures [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of utility transmission structures acquired | item	697
Consideration transferred	$ 954,000
Lease term		70 years

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Property and Equipment, Net (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Property and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 71,500	$ 71,800
Unpaid capital expenditures	$ 5,330		$ 6,073

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Property and Equipment, Net (Property and Equipment, Net (Including Assets Held Under Capital Leases)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 6,114,942	$ 6,123,966
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,506,416)	(3,446,640)
Property and equipment, net	2,608,526	2,677,326
Towers and Related Components [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	5,204,880	5,213,019
Construction-In-Process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	34,040	38,065
Furniture, Equipment and Vehicles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	54,270	54,610
Land, Buildings and Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 821,752	$ 818,272

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Intangible Assets, Net (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Amortization expense	$ 109.8	$ 110.7

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Intangible Assets, Net (Gross and Net Carrying Amounts for each Major Class of Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 6,548,716	$ 6,647,824
Accumulated amortization	(3,564,618)	(3,491,674)
Net book value	2,984,098	3,156,150
Current Contract Intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	4,794,137	4,876,880
Accumulated amortization	(2,520,675)	(2,471,438)
Net book value	2,273,462	2,405,442
Network Location Intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	1,754,579	1,770,944
Accumulated amortization	(1,043,943)	(1,020,236)
Net book value	$ 710,636	$ 750,708

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Accrued Expenses (Schedule of Accrued Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Accrued Expenses [Abstract]
Salaries and benefits	$ 15,046	$ 20,958
Real estate and property taxes	9,178	9,583
Unpaid capital expenditures	5,330	6,073
Other	27,664	26,417
Total accrued expenses	$ 57,218	$ 63,031

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Debt (Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 06, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Repayments of revolving credit facility		$ 500,000	$ 505,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowings on the revolving credit facility		710,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility		500,000
Line of credit facility, outstanding		$ 590,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee		0.20%
Revolving credit facility, effective interest rate		1.59%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Repayments of revolving credit facility	$ 95,000
Line of credit facility, outstanding	$ 495,000

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Debt (Term Loan under the Senior Credit Agreement) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount	$ 12,134,000,000	$ 11,180,000,000
2018 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount	2,334,000,000	$ 2,340,000,000
Repayment of term loans	$ 6,000,000.0

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Debt (Secured Tower Revenue Securities) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)			3 Months Ended
	May 14, 2021	Apr. 29, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount			$ 12,134,000,000	$ 11,180,000,000
2017-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount			$ 760,000,000	$ 760,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.168%
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 11, 2022
Subsequent Event [Member] | 2021-1R Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount		$ 61,400,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.625%
Repayment date of debt instrument		Nov. 09, 2026
Debt instrument, maturity date		May 09, 2051
Priced [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member] | 2021-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount		$ 1,165,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		1.631%
Repayment date of debt instrument		Nov. 09, 2026
Debt instrument, maturity date		May 09, 2051
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | 2017-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt	$ 760,000,000.0
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | 2017-1R Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of long-term debt	$ 40,000,000.0

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Debt (Senior Notes) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
	Feb. 11, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jan. 29, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount		$ 12,134,000,000		$ 11,180,000,000
2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, principal amount		$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Feb. 01, 2029
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.125%
Interest payable dates		February 1 and August 1
Financing fees		$ 14,300,000
Redemption period		Feb. 01, 2024
Aggregate redemption price, percentage		35.00%
Redemption price, percentage		103.125%
2021 Senior Notes [Member] | Redemption, Period One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption period		Feb. 01, 2024
Redemption price, percentage		101.563%
2021 Senior Notes [Member] | Redemption, Period Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption period		Feb. 01, 2025
Redemption price, percentage		100.781%
2021 Senior Notes [Member] | Redemption, Period Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Redemption period		Feb. 01, 2026
Redemption price, percentage		100.00%
2017 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of unsecured debt	$ 750,000,000.0
Write-off of deferred financing fees	4,200,000
Debt instrument, principal amount				$ 750,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Oct. 01, 2022
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		4.00%
Debt call premium	$ 7,500,000

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Debt (Schedule of Principal Values, Fair Values, and Carrying Values of Debt) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Jan. 29, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance	$ 12,134,000,000		$ 11,180,000,000
Fair Value	12,168,873,000		11,428,029,000
Carrying Value	12,043,757,000		11,095,796,000
Less: current maturities of long-term debt	(24,000,000)		(24,000,000)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities	$ 12,019,757,000		11,071,796,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Apr. 11, 2023
Principal Balance	$ 590,000,000		380,000,000
Fair Value	590,000,000		380,000,000
Carrying Value	$ 590,000,000		380,000,000
2018 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Apr. 11, 2025
Principal Balance	$ 2,334,000,000		2,340,000,000
Fair Value	2,301,908,000		2,310,750,000
Carrying Value	$ 2,320,200,000		2,325,391,000
2013-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Apr. 11, 2023
Principal Balance	$ 575,000,000		575,000,000
Fair Value	590,841,000		599,662,000
Carrying Value	$ 572,370,000		572,063,000
2014-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Oct. 08, 2024
Principal Balance	$ 620,000,000		620,000,000
Fair Value	655,185,000		670,003,000
Carrying Value	$ 616,368,000		616,131,000
2017-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Apr. 11, 2022
Principal Balance	$ 760,000,000		760,000,000
Fair Value	767,532,000		774,410,000
Carrying Value	$ 757,703,000		757,165,000
2018-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Mar. 09, 2023
Principal Balance	$ 640,000,000		640,000,000
Fair Value	660,928,000		671,341,000
Carrying Value	$ 636,481,000		636,045,000
2019-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Jan. 12, 2025
Principal Balance	$ 1,165,000,000		1,165,000,000
Fair Value	1,192,249,000		1,218,613,000
Carrying Value	$ 1,155,684,000		1,155,106,000
2020-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Jan. 09, 2026
Principal Balance	$ 750,000,000		750,000,000
Fair Value	734,505,000		752,910,000
Carrying Value	$ 743,050,000		742,782,000
2020-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Jan. 11, 2028
Principal Balance	$ 600,000,000		600,000,000
Fair Value	571,254,000		597,840,000
Carrying Value	$ 594,215,000		594,081,000
2016 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Sep. 01, 2024
Principal Balance	$ 1,100,000,000		1,100,000,000
Fair Value	1,124,871,000		1,127,500,000
Carrying Value	$ 1,089,616,000		1,088,924,000
2017 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Oct. 01, 2022
Principal Balance			750,000,000
Fair Value			757,500,000
Carrying Value			746,642,000
2020 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Feb. 15, 2027
Principal Balance	$ 1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000
Fair Value	1,533,975,000		1,567,500,000
Carrying Value	$ 1,482,131,000		$ 1,481,466,000
2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date	Feb. 01, 2029
Principal Balance	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,500,000,000
Fair Value	1,445,625,000
Carrying Value	$ 1,485,939,000

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Debt (Schedule of Cash and Non-Cash Interest Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 90,095	$ 95,851
Non-cash Interest	$ 11,804	2,406
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	1.59%
Cash Interest	$ 2,148	2,714
2018 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	1.872%
Cash Interest	$ 10,997	22,203
Non-cash Interest	$ 11,434	2,022
Blended rate	1.872%
Accruing interest rate	1.86%
2013-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.722%
Cash Interest	$ 5,396	5,396
2014-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.869%
Cash Interest	$ 6,046	6,046
2015-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.156%
Cash Interest		3,985
2016-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	2.877%
Cash Interest		5,090
2017-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.168%
Cash Interest	$ 6,085	6,085
2018-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.448%
Cash Interest	$ 5,570	5,570
2019-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	2.836%
Cash Interest	$ 8,357	8,357
2020-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	1.884%
Cash Interest	$ 3,598
2020-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	2.328%
Cash Interest	$ 3,540
2014 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	4.875%
Cash Interest		3,352
Non-cash Interest		112
2016 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	4.875%
Cash Interest	$ 13,406	13,406
Non-cash Interest	$ 286	272
2017 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	4.00%
Cash Interest	$ 2,333	7,500
2020 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.875%
Cash Interest	$ 14,531	6,135
Non-cash Interest	$ 84
2021 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rates as of March 31, 2021	3.125%
Cash Interest	$ 8,073
Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	15	$ 12
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | 2018 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 1,950,000
Derivative fixed interest rate	1.874%
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | 2018 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative basis spread on variable interest rate	1.75%

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Shareholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) - Class A Common Stock [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2021	Nov. 02, 2020
New Plan [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized		$ 1,000.0
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorization	$ 475.1
Prior Plan [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorization		$ 124.3

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Shareholders' Equity (Summary of Share Repurchases) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Total number of shares purchased (in millions)	0.7	0.8
Average price paid per share	$ 258.33	$ 242.86
Total price paid (in millions)	$ 168.9	$ 200.0

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Shareholders' Equity (Schedule of Dividends Paid and Dividends Declared) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 06, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021
February 20, 2020 [Member]
Date Declared		Feb. 19, 2021
Payable to Shareholders of Record At the Close of Business on		Mar. 10, 2021
Cash Paid Per Share		$ 0.58
Aggregate Amount Paid		$ 63.4
Date Paid/Date to be Paid		Mar. 26, 2021
Subsequent Event [Member] | August 3, 2020 [Member]
Date Declared	Apr. 26, 2021
Payable to Shareholders of Record At the Close of Business on	May 20, 2021
Cash to be Paid Per Share	$ 0.58
Date Paid/Date to be Paid	Jun. 15, 2021

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Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total intrinsic value for options exercised	$ 9.5
Performance Stock Units (PSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance period	3 years

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Stock-Based Compensation (Summary of Stock Option Activity) (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Number of Shares, Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | shares	3,202
Number of Shares, Exercised | shares	(70)
Number of Shares, Forfeited/canceled | shares	(7)
Number of Shares, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | shares	3,125
Number of Shares, Exercisable at March 31, 2021 | shares	2,371
Number of Shares, Unvested at March 31, 2021 | shares	754
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | $ / shares	$ 143.01
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Exercised | $ / shares	122.72
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Forfeited/canceled | $ / shares	173.81
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | $ / shares	143.39
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Exercisable at March 31, 2021 | $ / shares	132.98
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Unvested at March 31, 2021 | $ / shares	$ 176.21
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years), Outstanding at March 31, 2021	3 years 6 months
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years), Exercisable at March 31, 2021	3 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years), Unvested at March 31, 2021	4 years 8 months 12 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | $	$ 419,128
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at March 31, 2021 | $	342,849
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Unvested at March 31, 2021 | $	$ 76,279

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Stock-Based Compensation (Summary of Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Based Restricted Stock Unit Activity) (Details) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 $ / shares shares
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | shares	274
Number of Shares, Granted | shares	101
Number of Shares, Vested | shares	(122)
Number of Shares, Forfeited/canceled | shares	(3)
Number of Shares, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | shares	250
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | $ / shares	$ 206.48
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Granted | $ / shares	235.92
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Vested | $ / shares	185.34
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Forfeited/canceled | $ / shares	224.37
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | $ / shares	$ 228.47
Performance Stock Units (PSUs) [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of Shares, Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | shares	148
Number of Shares, Granted | shares	153
Number of Shares, Vested | shares
Number of Shares, Forfeited/canceled | shares	(1)
Number of Shares, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | shares	300
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding at December 31, 2020 | $ / shares	$ 376.48
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Granted | $ / shares	236.48
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Vested | $ / shares
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Forfeited/canceled | $ / shares	376.50
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding at March 31, 2021 | $ / shares	$ 304.80
Performance period	3 years

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Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Federal net operating loss carry-forward	$ 651.1

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Segment Data (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business segments | segment	2
Site leasing	$ 505,103	$ 492,356
Total assets	$ 9,763,460		$ 9,158,018
Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment	2
Brazil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site leasing	$ 55,400	$ 63,100
Total assets	$ 900,000		$ 1,000,000

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Segment Data (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 548,739	$ 517,067
Cost of revenues		129,774	115,514
Operating profit		418,965	401,553
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	[1]	51,601	49,617
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses		5,001	3,799
Asset impairment and decommission costs		4,903	14,355
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		183,881	182,579
Operating income		173,579	151,203
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)		(206,246)	(345,674)
Loss before income taxes		(32,667)	(194,471)
Cash capital expenditures		1,078,245	129,715
Assets		9,763,460		$ 9,158,018
Domestic Site Leasing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		403,579	386,345
Cost of revenues		65,120	63,905
Operating profit		338,459	322,440
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		28,056	27,323
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses		3,332	2,597
Asset impairment and decommission costs		3,871	10,826
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		137,054	133,806
Operating income		166,146	147,888
Cash capital expenditures		1,059,678	101,306
Assets		6,776,019		5,893,636
International Site Leasing [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		101,524	106,011
Cost of revenues		30,248	31,894
Operating profit		71,276	74,117
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		7,760	7,931
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses		1,669	1,202
Asset impairment and decommission costs		1,032	3,529
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		43,121	46,612
Operating income		17,694	14,843
Cash capital expenditures		16,947	26,433
Assets		2,696,652		2,955,563
Site Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		43,636	24,711
Cost of revenues		34,406	19,715
Operating profit		9,230	4,996
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		5,789	4,456
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		2,082	616
Operating income		1,359	(76)
Cash capital expenditures		870	782
Assets		81,127		61,729
Not Identified by Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		9,996	9,907
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,624	1,545
Operating income		(11,620)	(11,452)
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)		(206,246)	(345,674)
Cash capital expenditures		750	$ 1,194
Assets		$ 209,662		$ 247,090

[1] Includes non-cash compensation of $19,584 and $15,553 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	3.1	3.7
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	0.3	0.3
Performance Stock Units (PSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	0.3	0.1

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Earnings Per Share (Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation	$ (11,745)	$ (127,058)
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	109,469	111,908
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	109,469	111,908
Net loss per common share attributable to SBA Communications Corporation:
Basic	$ (0.11)	$ (1.14)
Diluted	$ (0.11)	$ (1.14)

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Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Narrative) (Details) - Atlas Tower South Africa [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 25, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest ownership percentage		6.00%
Acquired additional interest value	$ 13.7

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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 04, 2020	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Accumulated derivative losses		$ 98,100,000	$ 140,900,000
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Remaining maturity year		2023
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Remaining maturity year		2025
2018 Term Loan [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount		$ 1,950,000,000
Derivative fixed interest rate		1.874%
Derivative asset, fair value		$ 43,700,000	$ 12,100,000
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Cash transfer in connection with termination of swaps	$ 0
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | 2018 Term Loan [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount		$ 1,950,000,000
Payment to terminate	$ 176,200,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | 2018 Term Loan [Member] | Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative basis spread on variable interest rate		1.75%

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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Schedule of Effect of Derivatives the Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value recorded in Other income (expense), net		$ 3,966
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Non-Qualifying Hedging [Member] | Non-cash Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net into Non-cash interest expense	$ 11,221	4,642
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Qualifying Hedges [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	$ 31,566	(107,882)
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Qualifying Hedges [Member] | Non-cash Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Amount recognized in Non-cash interest expense		$ (2,822)