Debt and Other Obligations (Debt Purchases and Repayments) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					$ 2,145,847,000	[1]		$ 3,426,324,000
Cash Paid					2,229,709,000	[1],[2]		3,541,312,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations	(117,388,000)	0	(7,518,000)	(7,068,000)	131,974,000	[1]	0	138,367,000	[3]
Write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts					48,100,000			23,400,000
2004 Mortgage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount								1,638,616,000
Cash Paid								1,651,255,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations								15,718,000
2006 Mortgage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount								1,550,000,000
Cash Paid								1,629,920,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations								87,755,000
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt 2005 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount								5,000,000
Cash Paid								5,250,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations								393,000
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt 2006 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					251,000,000
Cash Paid					251,000,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					1,445,000
Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					619,125,000
Cash Paid					619,125,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					1,893,000
Fixed Rate - High Yield Bonds, 9% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					552,715,000
Cash Paid					589,105,000	[2]
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					62,966,000
Fixed Rate - High Yield Bonds, 7.75% Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					706,045,000
Cash Paid					752,332,000	[2]
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					64,989,000
Variable Rate Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount								33,115,000
Cash Paid								36,116,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations								6,425,000
Fixed Rate - High Yield Bonds, 7.75% Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount								199,593,000
Cash Paid								218,771,000
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations								28,076,000
Fixed Rate High Yield Bonds 7.5% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					51,000
Cash Paid					51,000	[2]
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					0
WCP Securitized Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					16,911,000
Cash Paid					18,096,000	[2]
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations					$ 681,000

[1] 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.

[2] Exclusive of accrued interest.

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