Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 519,471	$ 513,883	$ 500,336	$ 499,039	$ 496,314	$ 481,890	$ 456,127	$ 444,327	$ 2,032,729	$ 1,878,658		$ 1,685,407
Operating income (loss)	176,846	181,889	167,142	166,428	156,152	155,956	132,884	130,373	692,305	575,365		433,991
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					0	(71,933)	0	(66,434)	0	(138,367)	[1]	(91,079)	[2]
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps					5,860	(104,421)	(114,598)	(73,276)	0	286,435		92,966
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders	$ 48,911	$ 51,278	$ 30,871	$ 40,017	$ 40,873	$ (135,009)	$ (97,529)	$ (119,275)	$ 171,077	$ (310,940)		$ (114,332)
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)	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.09	$ 0.12					$ 0.52	$ (1.16)		$ (0.47)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ 0.15	$ 0.09	$ 0.12					$ 0.52	$ (1.16)		$ (0.47)
Basic and Diluted (in dollars per share)					$ 0.12	$ (0.49)	$ (0.36)	$ (0.43)

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

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