Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	$ 8,685,363,000	$ 8,345,126,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(3,824,136,000)	(3,451,475,000)
Total property and equipment, net	4,861,227,000	4,893,651,000
Depreciation expense	387,800,000	379,300,000	379,600,000
Land owned in fee and perpetual easements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	960,191,000	753,988,000
Estimated useful life, maximum, in years	0
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	37,454,000	37,165,000
Estimated Useful Life, Average	40
Wireless Infrastructure [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	7,329,889,000	7,242,887,000
Estimated useful life, minimum, in years	1
Estimated useful life, maximum, in years	20
Furniture Transportation and Other Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	181,583,000	164,077,000
Estimated useful life, minimum, in years	2
Estimated useful life, maximum, in years	10
Construction in Process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	$ 176,246,000	$ 147,009,000