Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 towers		Mar. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill not expected to be deductible for tax purposes	$ 405,700,000
Tower Count	31,600
Share-based Compensation	10,029,000		9,035,000
Net revenues			658,862,000	[1]
Net income (loss)			44,056,000	[2],[3]
Basic net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, after deduction of dividends on preferred stock, per common share			$ 0.14
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, after deduction of dividends on preferred stock, per common share			$ 0.14
Purchase Price allocation change since year end [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, net	31,100,000
Below-market tenant leases and other non-current liabilities	40,300,000
Deferred income tax liabilities	22,600,000
T-Mobile [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Current assets	17,854,000
Property and equipment	1,457,594,000
Goodwill	483,603,000	[4]
Other intangible assets, net	372,225,000
Below-market tenant leases and other non-current liabilities	(71,687,000)	[5]
Deferred income tax liabilities	226,197,000
Net assets acquired	2,485,786,000
Business acquisition, cost of acquired entity, purchase price	2,500,000,000
Pro forma revenue adjustments [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, pro forma adjustment			(65,100,000)
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, pro forma adjustment			$ (47,600,000)
Total T-Mobile Towers [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Tower Count	7,100

[1] For the three months ended March 31, 2012, amounts are inclusive of pro forma adjustments to increase net revenues of $65.1 million that we expect to recognize from T-Mobile under T-Mobile's contracted lease of space on the towers acquired in the T-Mobile Acquisition.

[2] For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the pro forma adjustments are tax effected using the federal statutory rate and no adjustment was made with respect to the Company's reversal of valuation allowance.

[3] For the three months ended March 31, 2012, amounts are inclusive of pro forma adjustments to increase depreciation and amortization of $47.6 million related to property and equipment and intangibles recorded as a result of the combined effect of the WCP Acquisition, NextG Acquisition, and T-Mobile Acquisition.

[4] The preliminary purchase price allocation for the T-Mobile Acquisition resulted in the recognition of goodwill at CCUSA primarily because of the anticipated growth opportunities in the tower portfolio. In addition, $405.7 million is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

[5] Inclusive of above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers.