Intangible Assets and Deferred Credits (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	$ 2,976,207,000	$ 2,950,362,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(798,025,000)	(636,433,000)
Other intangible assets, net	103,200,000	116,551,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	2,178,182,000	2,313,929,000
Amortization expense	163,187,000	159,914,000	149,243,000
2012	159,509,000
2013	151,288,000
2014	145,761,000
2015	140,146,000
2016	140,139,000
Above Market Leases [Member]
Deferred Credits [Abstract]
Deferred credit carrying value, gross	67,132,000	70,331,000
Deferred credit accumulated amortization	(17,816,000)	(17,669,000)
Deferred credit carrying value, net	49,316,000	52,662,000
2012	3,504,000
2013	3,434,000
2014	3,410,000
2015	3,386,000
2016	3,469,000
Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	2,823,832,000	2,799,804,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(748,850,000)	(602,426,000)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	2,074,982,000	2,197,378,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	23,400,000	39,100,000
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	152,375,000	150,558,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(49,175,000)	(34,007,000)
Other intangible assets, net	103,200,000	116,551,000
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	159,478,000	156,150,000	145,192,000
Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	3,709,000	3,764,000	4,051,000
Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member] | Above Market Leases [Member]
Deferred Credits [Abstract]
Deferred credit amortization expense	$ 3,800,000	$ 4,400,000	$ 4,500,000