Stock-based Compensation (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Summary of Restricted Stock Awards Activity

The following is a summary of the restricted stock award activity during the year ended December 31, 2012.

	Number of Shares		Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
	(In thousands of shares)		(In dollars per share)
Shares outstanding at the beginning of year	3,403		$	21.1
Shares granted	972		38.8
Shares vested	(1,974	)	13.7
Shares forfeited	(58	)	40.4
Shares outstanding at end of year	2,343		$	34.2

Summary of the Assumptions Used in the Monte Carlo Simulation to Determine the Grant-Date Fair Value

The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the Monte Carlo simulation to determine the grant-date fair value for the awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, with market conditions.

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Risk-free rate	0.4	%	1.4	%	1.5	%
Expected volatility	31	%	48	%	49	%
Expected dividend rate	—	%	—	%	—	%

Summary of Restricted Stock Awards Vested

The following table is a summary of the restricted stock awards vested during the three years ended December 31, 2012.

Years Ended December 31,	Total Shares Vested	Fair Value on Vesting Date
	(In thousands of shares)
2012	1,974	$	101,692
2011	1,717	74,754
2010	891	34,813

Stock Based Compensation Expense

The following table discloses the components of stock-based compensation expense. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded tax benefits, exclusive of the change in the valuation allowance, of $14.7 million, $11.4 million and $12.8 million, respectively, related to stock-based compensation expense (see note 9).

	Year Ended December 31, 2012
	CCUSA		CCAL		Consolidated Total
Stock-based compensation expense:
Site rental costs of operations	$	3,401	$	—	$	3,401
Network services and other costs of operations	2,721		—		2,721
General and administrative expenses	35,822		5,597		41,419
Total stock-based compensation	$	41,944	$	5,597	$	47,541
	Year Ended December 31, 2011
	CCUSA		CCAL		Consolidated Total
Stock-based compensation expense:
Site rental costs of operations	$	942	$	—	$	942
Network services and other costs of operations	1,555		—		1,555
General and administrative expenses	30,113		3,381		33,494
Total stock-based compensation	$	32,610	$	3,381	$	35,991
	Year Ended December 31, 2010
	CCUSA		CCAL		Consolidated Total
Stock-based compensation expense:
Site rental costs of operations	$	1,131	$	—	$	1,131
Network services and other costs of operations	1,568		—		1,568
General and administrative expenses	33,841		3,425		37,266
Total stock-based compensation	$	36,540	$	3,425	$	39,965