Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	3.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTSItems 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 20 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 year ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Asset impairment (1) $ 24,813 $ 31,552 $ 18,794Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers 6,349 7,456 11,155Other (including third party decommission costs) 1,882 1,089 3,154Total asset impairment and decommission costs $ 33,044 $ 40,097 $ 33,103 (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 $47.9 million and $57.6 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 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. The Company did not recognize any impairment loss associated with its investments during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.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 is based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of short-term investments. The Company purchased and sold $1.7 billion, $1.2 billion, and $0.6 billion of short-term investments for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.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 150.0 basis points). Refer to Note 11 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 2 and Note 21.

Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

3.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTSItems 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 20 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 year ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Asset impairment (1) $ 24,813 $ 31,552 $ 18,794Write-off of carrying value of decommissioned towers 6,349 7,456 11,155Other (including third party decommission costs) 1,882 1,089 3,154Total asset impairment and decommission costs $ 33,044 $ 40,097 $ 33,103 (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 $47.9 million and $57.6 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are recorded in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 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. The Company did not recognize any impairment loss associated with its investments during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019.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 is based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of short-term investments. The Company purchased and sold $1.7 billion, $1.2 billion, and $0.6 billion of short-term investments for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.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 150.0 basis points). Refer to Note 11 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 2 and Note 21.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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