Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Net revenues:
Site rental	$ 1,853,550		$ 1,700,761		$ 1,543,192
Network services and other	179,179		177,897		142,215
Net revenues	2,032,729		1,878,658		1,685,407
Costs of Operations:
Site rental	481,398	[1]	467,136	[1]	456,560	[1]
Network services and other	106,987	[1]	114,241	[1]	92,808	[1]
General and administrative	173,493		165,356		153,072
Asset write-down charges	22,285		13,687		19,237
Acquisition and integration costs	3,310		2,102		0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	552,951		540,771		529,739
Total operating expenses	1,340,424		1,303,293		1,251,416
Operating income (loss)	692,305		575,365		433,991
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	(507,587)		(490,269)		(445,882)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	0		(138,367)	[2]	(91,079)	[3]
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0		(286,435)		(92,966)
Interest income	666		2,204		2,967
Other income (expense)	(5,577)		(603)		2,446
Income (loss) before income taxes	179,807		(338,105)		(190,523)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(8,347)		26,846		76,400
Net income (loss)	171,460		(311,259)		(114,123)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	383		(319)		209
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders	171,077		(310,940)		(114,332)
Dividends on preferred stock and losses on purchases of preferred stock	(22,940)		(20,806)		(20,806)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders after deduction of dividends on preferred stock and losses on purchases of preferred stock	148,137		(331,746)		(135,138)
Net income (loss)	171,460		(311,259)		(114,123)
Available-for-sale securities, net of taxes of $0, $0, and $0, respectively:
Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes	(7,537)		738		6,799
Derivative instruments net of taxes of $0, $(14,997) and $60,324, respectively:
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments, net of taxes	(973)		(140,194)		80,789
Amounts reclassified into results of operations, net of taxes	71,707		56,890		154,891
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(848)		27,908		41,399
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	62,349		(54,658)		283,878
Comprehensive income (loss)	233,809		(365,917)		169,755
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	750		(223)		(18)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders	$ 233,059		$ (365,694)		$ 169,773
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, after deduction of dividends on preferred stock and losses on purchases of preferred stock, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52		$ (1.16)		$ (0.47)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52		$ (1.16)		$ (0.47)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	283,821		286,764		286,622
Diluted (in shares)	285,947		286,764		286,622

[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately.

[2] Inclusive of $23.4 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts.

[3] Inclusive of $4.2 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and other non-cash adjustments.