Stock-based Compensation (Stock-Based Compensation Expense) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense, tax benefits	$ 11,400,000	$ 12,800,000	$ 10,200,000
Stock-based compensation expense	35,991,000	39,965,000	30,305,000
CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	32,610,000	36,540,000	29,225,000
CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	3,381,000	3,425,000	1,080,000
Site Rental Cost of Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	942,000	1,131,000	967,000
Site Rental Cost of Operations [Member] | CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	942,000	1,131,000	967,000
Site Rental Cost of Operations [Member] | CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0	0
Network Services and Other Costs of Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	1,555,000	1,568,000	1,207,000
Network Services and Other Costs of Operations [Member] | CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	1,555,000	1,568,000	1,207,000
Network Services and Other Costs of Operations [Member] | CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	33,494,000	37,266,000	28,131,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member] | CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	30,113,000	33,841,000	27,051,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member] | CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 3,381,000	$ 3,425,000	$ 1,080,000