Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 118,903	$ 80,120
Restricted cash	273,305	252,368
Receivables, net	141,399	77,258
Prepaid expenses	104,646	80,529
Deferred income tax assets	78,937	85,385
Deferred site rental receivables and other current assets, net	60,186	23,492
Total current assets	777,376	599,152
Deferred site rental receivables, net	804,231	621,103
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,140,879 and $3,824,136, respectively	5,380,541	4,861,227
Goodwill	2,801,161	2,035,390
Other intangible assets, net	2,368,650	2,178,182
Long-term prepaid rent, deferred financing costs and other assets, net	604,460	250,042
Total assets	12,736,419	10,545,096
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	48,373	32,055
Accrued interest	54,587	65,392
Deferred revenues and below-market tenant leases	220,744	167,238
Other accrued liabilities	120,020	104,904
Current maturities of debt and other obligations	88,093	32,517
Total current liabilities	531,817	402,106
Debt and other long-term obligations	8,295,071	6,853,182
Deferred income tax liabilities	96,735	97,562
Below-market tenant leases, deferred ground lease payable and other liabilities	869,991	500,350
Total liabilities	9,793,614	7,853,200
Commitments and contingencies (note 11)
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.1 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding: September 30, 2012—0 and December 31, 2011—6,111,000; stated net of unamortized issue costs; mandatory redemption and aggregate liquidation value: September 30, 2012—$0 and December 31, 2011—$305,550	0	305,032
CCIC stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding: September 30, 2012 - 293,161,069 and December 31, 2011 - 284,449,372	2,932	2,844
Additional paid-in capital	5,615,263	5,312,342
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(71,633)	(116,996)
Accumulated deficit	(2,606,485)	(2,811,945)
Total CCIC stockholders' equity	2,940,077	2,386,245
Noncontrolling interest	2,728	619
Total equity	2,942,805	2,386,864
Total liabilities and equity	$ 12,736,419	$ 10,545,096