Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 4,916,426		$ 3,119,957		$ 2,035,390
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	5,248,356		3,920,415
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(1,190,491)		(978,719)
Other intangible assets, net	407,522		289,136
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	4,057,865		2,941,696
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	1,336,359		950,226
Amortization expense	214,239		180,515		163,187
2012	272,944
2013	267,326
2014	267,273
2015	266,902
2016	266,732
Deferred Credits [Abstract]
2012	21,854
2013	21,839
2014	21,796
2015	21,767
2016	21,741
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	20 years		21 years
Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	4,761,605		3,566,207
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(1,111,262)		(913,647)
Finite-lived intangible assets, net	3,650,343		2,652,560
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	1,203,596		741,526
Deferred Credits [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	20 years		21 years
Below Market Leases For Land Interests [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	114,900		178,300
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	486,751		354,208
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	(79,229)		(65,072)
Other intangible assets, net	407,522		289,136
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount	132,763	[1]	208,700	[2]
Deferred Credits [Abstract]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	21 years		19 years
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	204,042		177,163		159,478
Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	10,197		3,352		3,709
NextG Networks Inc. [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			573,617	[3]
Wireless Capital Partners, LLC [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			54,824	[4]
AT&T [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	1,768,535	[5]
T-Mobile [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period			428,019	[5]
Other Acquired Goodwill [Domain]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	25,194		28,113
Effect of exchange rates on goodwill [Domain]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$ 2,740		$ (6)

[1] (a)$114.9 million is related to below-market leases for land interests under acquired wireless infrastructure for the year ended December 31, 2013 which is inclusive of adjustments made during 2013 related to the T-Mobile purchase price allocation (see note 3). (b)$178.3 million is

[2] (b)$178.3 million is related to below-market leases for land interests under acquired wireless infrastructure for the year ended December 31, 2012.Amortiza

[3] urchase price allocation for the NextG Acquisition resulted in the recognition of a substantial amount of goodwill at CCUSA relative to the purchase price based on the following:•the acquired or in-process DAS have low average tenancy, which the Company believes provides an opportunity to co-locate additional tenants on those systems;•the Company believes that the economics associated with DAS are similar to the economics associated with the Company's towers, whereby expected increases in revenues from additional tenants on existing DAS are expected to result in high incremental margins due to relatively fixed operating costs;•the Company believes the demand for tenants to co-locate on DAS will be driven by the continued growth trends in the wireless communication industry as wireless carriers continue to focus on improving network quality and expanding capacity;•the Company believes the acquired DAS are well-positioned to benefit from the anticipated growth in the wireless industry with their previously mentioned locations in the ten largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S.; or•other intangibles not qualified for separate recognition, including the assembled work force.To a lesser extent, a portion of the goodwill recognized is the result of recording the tax impact of the NextG Acquisition. See also note 10.(b)

[4] Company paid a purchase price for the WCP Acquisition that resulted in goodwill at CCUSA primarily because of the strategic opportunities related to the acquired portfolio.

[5] purchase price allocation for the T-Mobile Acquisition and the preliminary purchase price allocation for the AT&T Acquisition resulted in the recognition of goodwill at CCUSA primarily because of the anticipated growth opportunities in the respective tower portfolios. Int