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.