Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

Schedule of Goodwill

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	3,119,957
Additions due to AT&T Acquisition (a)	1,768,535
Additions due to other acquisitions	25,194
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations and other adjustments	2,740
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	4,916,426
Adjustments to AT&T Acquisition purchase price allocation (a)	134,242
Additions due to other acquisitions	159,952
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations and other adjustments	(529		)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	5,210,091

(a) The purchase price allocation for the AT&T Acquisition resulted in the recognition of goodwill at CCUSA primarily because of the anticipated growth opportunity in the acquired tower portfolio. See note 3.

Intangible Assets

The following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets. See note 3 for further discussion of the Company's acquisitions.

	As of December 31, 2014								As of December 31, 2013
	Gross Carrying Value			Accumulated Amortization			Net Book Value		Gross Carrying Value		Accumulated Amortization			Net Book Value
Site rental contracts and customer relationships	$	4,660,082	(a)	$	(1,347,947	)	$	3,312,135	$	4,761,605	$	(1,111,262	)	$	3,650,343
Other intangible assets	509,824			(106,259		)	403,565		486,751		(79,229		)	407,522
Total	$	5,169,906		$	(1,454,206	)	$	3,715,700	$	5,248,356	$	(1,190,491	)	$	4,057,865

(a) Inclusive of adjustments made during 2014 related to the AT&T Acquisition purchase price allocation. See note 3.

Schedule of Amortization Expense

Amortization expense related to intangible assets is classified as follows on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss):

	For Years Ended December 31,
Classification	2014		2013		2012
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	$	245,614	$	204,042	$	177,163
Site rental costs of operations	22,105		10,197		3,352
Total amortization expense	$	267,719	$	214,239	$	180,515

Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member]

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense

The estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets (inclusive of those recorded as an increase to "site rental costs of operations") for the years ended December 31, 2015 to 2019 is as follows:

	Years Ending December 31,
	2015		2016		2017		2018		2019
Estimated annual amortization	$	259,272	$	259,026	$	258,438	$	256,669	$	254,980