Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 years	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 years	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Deferred Credit Carrying Value Gross	$ 277,200,000		$ 277,200,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	3,272,915,000		3,272,915,000		2,976,207,000
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill amount	682,148,000		682,148,000
Amortization of intangible assets	43,108,000	40,538,000	84,088,000	81,229,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	192,062,000		192,062,000		298,137,000	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	(881,623,000)		(881,623,000)		(798,025,000)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	2,391,292,000		2,391,292,000		2,178,182,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, weighted average useful life	19.5		23.0
Weighted average amortization period of deferred credits acquired.	11		11
Amortization expense, 2012 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	13,203,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	87,277,000
Amortization expense, 2013 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	26,398,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	166,400,000
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	181,435,000		181,435,000		152,375,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	30,000,000		30,000,000		30,573,000	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	(56,088,000)		(56,088,000)		(49,175,000)
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, weighted average useful life	19.0		18.9
Other intangible assets, net	125,347,000		125,347,000		103,200,000
Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	3,091,480,000		3,091,480,000		2,823,832,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	162,062,000		162,062,000		267,564,000	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	(825,535,000)		(825,535,000)		(748,850,000)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	2,265,945,000		2,265,945,000		2,074,982,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, weighted average useful life	19.6		23.5
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	42,353,000	39,663,000	82,525,000	79,234,000
Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	755,000	875,000	1,563,000	1,995,000
Amortization expense, 2014 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	26,361,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	164,128,000
Amortization expense, 2015 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	25,527,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	155,247,000
Amortization expense, 2016 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	24,799,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	155,247,000
NextG Networks Inc. [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill amount	682,100,000		682,100,000
Wireless Capital Partners, LLC [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill amount	54,800,000		54,800,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	94,500,000		94,500,000
Goodwill not expected to be deductible for tax purposes	$ 40,900,000		$ 40,900,000

[1] $94.5 million related to the WCP Acquisition.