Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Subsequent Events NextG Networks Acquisition In December 2011, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NextG for approximately $1.0 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments. NextG has over 7,000 DAS antenna locations ("nodes") on-air and approximately 1,500 nodes under construction in the U.S. In addition, NextG has rights to over 4,600 miles of fiber. NextG is the largest provider of outdoor DAS", each system is a network of antennas connected by fiber to a communications hub designed to facilitate wireless communications. Approximately 80% of NextG's nodes are located in the 10 largest U.S. basic trading areas in the U.S. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012. WCP Acquisition On January 12, 2012, the Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain subsidiaries of Wireless Capital Partners, LLC ("WCP") and on January 31, 2012 the Company closed the acquisition. Upon closing in January 2012, WCP held various contracts with wireless site owners, including approximately 2,300 ground lease related assets, including over 150 related to the Company's towers. The gross purchase price was approximately $500 million, exclusive of purchase price adjustments. WCP has approximately $320 million of secured debt that remains outstanding at closing. January 2012 Refinancing In January 2012, the Company refinanced and repaid the Revolver and 2007 Term Loans with the proceeds of a $3.1 billion senior credit facility ("2012 Credit Facility") issued by CCOC. The 2012 Credit Facility consists of (1) a $1.0 billion senior secured revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility"), which will mature in January 2017, (2) a $500.0 million delayed-draw senior secured term loan facility ("Term Loan A"), which will mature in January 2017, and (3) a $1.6 billion senior secured term loan facility ("Term Loan B"), which will mature in January 2019. The proceeds of the Term Loan B were used in part to repay the existing Revolver and 2007 Term Loans and to fund the cash consideration of the WCP acquisition. The balance of the proceeds of the Term Loan B and the proceeds of the Term Loan A may be used for general corporate purposes, including to fund the expected acquisition of NextG and the financing of capital expenditures, acquisitions and purchases of the Company's securities. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan A bear interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 2.0% to 2.75%, based on CCOC's total net leverage ratio; and the Term Loan B bears interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.0% (with LIBOR subject to a floor of 1% per annum). Mandatory Conversion of 6.25% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock In January 2012, the Company exercised its right to convert all of the outstanding 6.25% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. The conversion of such preferred stock into 8.3 million shares of common stock is expected to occur in February 2012. The Company will pay cash in lieu of fractional shares of common stock.

Subsequent Events

NextG Networks Acquisition

In December 2011, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NextG for approximately $1.0 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments. NextG has over 7,000 DAS antenna locations ("nodes") on-air and approximately 1,500 nodes under construction in the U.S. In addition, NextG has rights to over 4,600 miles of fiber. NextG is the largest provider of outdoor DAS", each system is a network of antennas connected by fiber to a communications hub designed to facilitate wireless communications. Approximately 80% of NextG's nodes are located in the 10 largest U.S. basic trading areas in the U.S. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012.

WCP Acquisition

On January 12, 2012, the Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain subsidiaries of Wireless Capital Partners, LLC ("WCP") and on January 31, 2012 the Company closed the acquisition. Upon closing in January 2012, WCP held various contracts with wireless site owners, including approximately 2,300 ground lease related assets, including over 150 related to the Company's towers. The gross purchase price was approximately $500 million, exclusive of purchase price adjustments. WCP has approximately $320 million of secured debt that remains outstanding at closing.

January 2012 Refinancing

In January 2012, the Company refinanced and repaid the Revolver and 2007 Term Loans with the proceeds of a $3.1 billion senior credit facility ("2012 Credit Facility") issued by CCOC. The 2012 Credit Facility consists of (1) a $1.0 billion senior secured revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility"), which will mature in January 2017, (2) a $500.0 million delayed-draw senior secured term loan facility ("Term Loan A"), which will mature in January 2017, and (3) a $1.6 billion senior secured term loan facility ("Term Loan B"), which will mature in January 2019. The proceeds of the Term Loan B were used in part to repay the existing Revolver and 2007 Term Loans and to fund the cash consideration of the WCP acquisition. The balance of the proceeds of the Term Loan B and the proceeds of the Term Loan A may be used for general corporate purposes, including to fund the expected acquisition of NextG and the financing of capital expenditures, acquisitions and purchases of the Company's securities. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan A bear interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 2.0% to 2.75%, based on CCOC's total net leverage ratio; and the Term Loan B bears interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.0% (with LIBOR subject to a floor of 1% per annum).

Mandatory Conversion of 6.25% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

In January 2012, the Company exercised its right to convert all of the outstanding 6.25% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. The conversion of such preferred stock into 8.3 million shares of common stock is expected to occur in February 2012. The Company will pay cash in lieu of fractional shares of common stock.