Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Amortization of below-market tenant leases [Table Text Block]

The estimated annual amounts related to below-market tenant leases expected to be amortized into site rental revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and years ended December 31, 2013 to 2016 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Years Ending December 31,
	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016
Estimated annual amortization	$	7,132	$	28,518	$	28,479	$	27,578	$	26,791

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]

The following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets.

	As of September 30, 2012							As of December 31, 2011
	Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Book Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Book Value
Site rental contracts and customer relationships	$	3,112,773	$	(865,227	)	$	2,247,546	$	2,823,832	$	(748,850	)	$	2,074,982
Other intangible assets	181,477		(60,373		)	121,104		152,375		(49,175		)	103,200
Total	$	3,294,250	$	(925,600	)	$	2,368,650	$	2,976,207	$	(798,025	)	$	2,178,182

Schedule of Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Table Text Block]

The components of the additions to intangible assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012			2012
	Amount		Weighted-Average Amortization Period	Amount(a)		Weighted-Average Amortization Period
			(In years)			(In years)
Site rental contracts and customer relationships	$	20,481	20.0	$	288,045	23.3
Other intangible assets	—		—	30,440		18.8
Total	$	20,481	20.0	$	318,485	22.9

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(a) $94.5 million related to the WCP Acquisition.

Schedule of Amortization Expense [Text Block]

Amortization expense related to intangible assets is classified as follows on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss):

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
Classification	2012		2011		2012		2011
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	$	42,970	$	39,977	$	125,496	$	119,212
Site rental costs of operations	763		857		2,326		2,852
Total amortization expense	$	43,733	$	40,834	$	127,822	$	122,064

Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

The estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets (inclusive of those recorded to "site rental costs of operations") for the three months ended December 31, 2012 and years ended December 31, 2013 to 2016 is as follows:

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Years Ending December 31,
	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016
Estimated annual amortization	$	42,592	$	164,517	$	161,186	$	155,572	$	155,544