Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Net revenues:
Site rental	$ 2,124,190		$ 1,853,550		$ 1,700,761
Network services and other	308,490		179,179		177,897
Net revenues	2,432,680		2,032,729		1,878,658
Costs of Operations:
Site rental	539,239	[1]	481,398	[1]	467,136	[1]
Network services and other	189,750	[1]	106,987	[1]	114,241	[1]
General and administrative	212,572		173,493		165,356
Asset write-down charges	15,548		22,285		13,687
Acquisition and integration costs	18,298		3,310		2,102
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	622,592		552,951		540,771
Total operating expenses	1,597,999		1,340,424		1,303,293
Operating income (loss)	834,681		692,305		575,365
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs	(601,044)		(507,587)		(490,269)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	(131,974)	[2]	0		(138,367)	[3]
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0		0		(286,435)
Interest income	4,556		666		2,204
Other income (expense)	(5,392)		(5,577)		(603)
Income (loss) before income taxes	100,827		179,807		(338,105)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	100,061		(8,347)		26,846
Net income (loss)	200,888		171,460		(311,259)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	12,304		383		(319)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders	188,584		171,077		(310,940)
Dividends on preferred stock and losses on purchases of preferred stock	(2,629)		(22,940)		(20,806)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders after deduction of dividends on preferred stock and losses on purchases of preferred stock	185,955		148,137		(331,746)
Net income (loss)	200,888		171,460		(311,259)
Available-for-sale securities, net of taxes of $0, $0, and $0, respectively:
Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes	0		(7,537)		738
Derivative instruments, net of taxes of $17,115, $0, and $(14,997), respectively:
Net change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments, net of taxes	0		(973)		(140,194)
Amounts reclassified into results of operations, net of taxes	48,124		71,707		56,890
Foreign currency translation adjustments	6,308		(848)		27,908
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	54,432		62,349		(54,658)
Comprehensive income (loss)	255,320		233,809		(365,917)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest	11,531		750		(223)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders	$ 243,789		$ 233,059		$ (365,694)
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)	$ 0.64		$ 0.52		$ (1.16)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64		$ 0.52		$ (1.16)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)	289,285		283,821		286,764
Diluted (in shares)	291,270		285,947		286,764

[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately.

[2] Inclusive of $48.1 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts. In addition, the remainder relates to cash losses including with respect to make whole payments.

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