Debt (Schedule Of Cash And Non-Cash Interest Expense) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 24, 2009
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 50,578	$ 42,307	$ 136,728	$ 118,616
Non-cash Interest	17,874	16,089	52,281	47,095
Interest rate for senior notes	4.00%		4.00%
1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	2,508	2,508	7,523	7,582
Non-cash Interest	9,339	8,507	27,375	25,137
Interest rate for senior notes	1.875%		1.875%
4.0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	5,000	5,000	15,000	15,000
Non-cash Interest	8,412	7,400	24,448	21,508
Interest rate for senior notes	4.00%		4.00%
8.0% Senior Notes due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	3,142	7,500	15,867	22,500
Non-cash Interest	35	78	174	229
Interest rate for senior notes	8.00%		8.00%		8.00%
8.25% Senior Notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	5,027	7,734	18,150	23,203
Non-cash Interest	42	60	149	176
Interest rate for senior notes	8.25%		8.25%		8.25%
5.625% Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	234		234
Interest rate for senior notes	5.625%		5.625%
5.75% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	10,094		10,094
Interest rate for senior notes	5.75%		5.75%
2010 Secured Tower Revenue Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	14,344	14,344	43,032	43,028
Two Thousand Twelve Secured Tower Revenue Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	2,612		2,612
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	849	479	3,558	2,730
Two Thousand Eleven Term Loan B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	4,743	4,857	14,163	4,926
Non-cash Interest	45	44	134	45
Two Thousand Twelve Term Loan A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	1,403		2,262
Two Thousand Twelve Term Loan B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	94		94
Non-cash Interest	1		1
Mobilitie Bridge Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	499		4,239
Capitalized interest [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	(24)	(142)	(238)	(418)
Other Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 53	$ 27	$ 138	$ 65