Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt and other obligations	$ 6,936,686		$ 6,778,894
Less: current maturities and short-term debt and other current obligations	33,612		28,687
Non-current portion of long-term debt and other long-term obligations	6,903,074		6,750,207
Bank Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt and other obligations	925,750		782,625
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Jan. 2007
Contractual maturity date	Sept. 2013
Total debt and other obligations	305,000	[1]	157,000
Stated interest rate	2.40%	[2],[3]
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate 2007 Term Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Jan./March 2007
Contractual maturity date	March 2014
Total debt and other obligations	620,750		625,625
Stated interest rate	1.70%	[2],[3]
Securitized Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt and other obligations	3,670,870		3,683,085
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt January 2010 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Jan. 2010
Contractual maturity date	2035 - 2040	[4]
Total debt and other obligations	1,900,000		1,900,000
Stated interest rate	5.80%	[2],[4]
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Aug. 2010
Contractual maturity date	2035 - 2040	[4]
Total debt and other obligations	1,550,000		1,550,000
Stated interest rate	4.50%	[2],[4]
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	July 2009
Contractual maturity date	2019/2029	[5]
Total debt and other obligations	220,870		233,085
Stated interest rate	7.00%	[2]
High Yield Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt and other obligations	2,290,554		2,278,647
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Fixed Rate - High Yield Bonds, 9% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Jan. 2009
Contractual maturity date	Jan. 2015
Total debt and other obligations	814,456		804,971
Stated interest rate	9.00%	[2],[6]
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Fixed Rate - High Yield Bonds, 7.75% Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	April 2009
Contractual maturity date	May 2017
Total debt and other obligations	978,191		975,913
Stated interest rate	7.80%	[2],[7]
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Fixed Rate - High Yield Bonds, 7.125% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Oct. 2009
Contractual maturity date	Nov. 2019
Total debt and other obligations	497,856		497,712
Stated interest rate	7.10%	[2],[8]
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Fixed Rate High Yield Bonds 7.5% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Dec. 2003
Contractual maturity date	Dec. 2013
Total debt and other obligations	51		51
Stated interest rate	7.50%	[2]
Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original issue date	Various
Contractual maturity date	Various	[9]
Total debt and other obligations	$ 49,512		$ 34,537
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated	Various	[2],[9]

[1] In June 2011, CCOC amended the senior secured revolving credit facility ("Revolver") to increase the aggregate revolving commitment availability by $50.0 million to a total revolving commitment availability of $450.0 million, subject to certain restrictions based on the maintenance of financial covenants in the 2007 Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2011, the undrawn availability under the Revolver is $145.0 million.

[2] Represents the weighted-average stated interest rate.

[3] The Revolver bears interest at a rate per annum, at the election of CCOC, equal to (i) the greater of the prime rate of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5%, plus a credit spread ranging from 1.0% to 1.4% or (ii) LIBOR plus a credit spread ranging from 2.0% to 2.4%, in each case based on the Company's consolidated leverage ratio. The 2007 Term Loans bear interest at a rate per annum, at CCOC's election, equal to (i) the greater of the prime rate of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5% or (ii) LIBOR plus 1.5%.

[4] If the respective series of the January 2010 Tower Revenue Notes and August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes are not paid in full on or prior to 2015, 2017 and 2020, as applicable, then Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the indenture) of the issuers (of such notes) will be used to repay principal of the applicable series and class of the 2010 Tower Revenue Notes, and additional interest (by an additional approximately 5% per annum) will accrue on the respective 2010 Tower Revenue Notes. The January 2010 Tower Revenue Notes consist of three series of notes with principal amounts of $300.0 million, $350.0 million and $1.3 billion, having anticipated repayment dates in 2015, 2017 and 2020, respectively. The August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes consist of three series of notes with principal amounts of $250.0 million, $300.0 million and $1.0 billion, having anticipated repayment dates in 2015, 2017 and 2020, respectively.

[5] The 2009 Securitized Notes consist of $150.9 million of principal as of September 30, 2011 that amortizes through 2019, and $70.0 million of principal as of September 30, 2011 that amortizes during the period beginning in 2019 and ending in 2029.

[6] The effective yield is approximately 11.3%, inclusive of the discount.

[7] The effective yield is approximately 8.2%, inclusive of the discount.

[8] The effective yield is approximately 7.2%, inclusive of the discount.

[9] The Company's capital leases and other obligations bear interest rates up to 9% and mature in periods ranging from less than one year to approximately 20 years.