Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1.BASIS OF PRESENTATIONThe 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 TranslationAll 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 translation 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 RemeasurementIn 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 $45.0 million loss and a $25.4 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and a $28.4 million loss and a $198.6 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company repaid $149.9 million of the intercompany loans. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $788.4 million and $909.8 million, respectively.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. On July 7, 2021, the Company amended its Credit Facility to provide mechanics relating to a transition away from LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate and the replacement of LIBOR by an alternative benchmark rate. Refer to Note 10 for further discussion of the Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has not modified any other contracts as a result of reference rate reform and is evaluating the impact this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

1.BASIS OF PRESENTATIONThe 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 TranslationAll 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 translation 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 RemeasurementIn 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 $45.0 million loss and a $25.4 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and a $28.4 million loss and a $198.6 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to changes in foreign exchange rates. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company repaid $149.9 million of the intercompany loans. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $788.4 million and $909.8 million, respectively.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. On July 7, 2021, the Company amended its Credit Facility to provide mechanics relating to a transition away from LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate and the replacement of LIBOR by an alternative benchmark rate. Refer to Note 10 for further discussion of the Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has not modified any other contracts as a result of reference rate reform and is evaluating the impact this standard may have on its consolidated financial statements.