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This disclosure represents the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be paid relating to asset retirement obligations

+ References

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- Definition

Tower count as a percentage of total towers

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- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the carrying amount of asset retirement obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 24

-Article 5

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Commitments and Contingencies Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Accretion expense	$ 10,100,000	$ 8,100,000	$ 6,500,000
Other long-term liabilities	1,659,698,000us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1,349,919,000us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be paid relating to asset retirement obligations	1,200,000,000
ATT, TMO, WCP, and NextG Acquisitions [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in asset retirement obligations		16,300,000
asset retirement obligations [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Other long-term liabilities	$ 128,153,000	$ 118,403,000
Subject to Capital Lease with Sprint, TMO, or AT&T [Member]
Asset Retirement Obligations [Line Items]
Tower count as a percentage of total towers	53.00%