Stock-based Compensation (Stock-Based Compensation Expense) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 6,000,000	$ 14,500,000	$ 14,700,000
Stock-based compensation expense	60,164,000	41,788,000	47,541,000
CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	56,431,000	39,030,000	41,944,000
CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	3,733,000	2,758,000	5,597,000
Site Rental Cost of Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	6,565,000	1,193,000	3,401,000
Site Rental Cost of Operations [Member] | CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	6,565,000	1,193,000	3,401,000
Site Rental Cost of Operations [Member] | CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0	0
Network Services and Other Costs of Operations [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	4,889,000	1,799,000	2,721,000
Network Services and Other Costs of Operations [Member] | CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	4,889,000	1,799,000	2,721,000
Network Services and Other Costs of Operations [Member] | CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	48,710,000	38,796,000	41,419,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member] | CCUSA [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	44,977,000	36,038,000	35,822,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member] | CCAL [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 3,733,000	$ 2,758,000	$ 5,597,000