Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 3,018,413		$ 2,866,613		$ 2,371,380
Network services and other		645,438		672,143		494,371
Net revenues		3,663,851		3,538,756		2,865,751
Costs of Operations:
Site rental	[1]	963,869		906,152		686,873
Network services and other	[1]	357,557		400,454		304,144
General and administrative		310,921		257,296		213,519
Asset write-down charges		33,468		14,246		13,595
Acquisition and integration costs		15,678		34,145		25,574
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,036,178		985,781		741,342
Total operating expenses		2,717,671		2,598,074		1,985,047
Operating income (loss)		946,180		940,682		880,704
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(527,128)		(573,291)		(589,630)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		(4,157)	[2]	(44,629)	[3]	(37,127)	[4]
Interest income		1,906		315		956
Other income (expense)		57,028		11,993		(3,902)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		473,829		335,070		251,001
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		51,457		11,244		(191,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent		525,286		346,314		60,001
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	[6],[7]	19,690	[5]	52,460	[5]	33,900
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax		979,359		0		0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax and Gain (Loss) on Disposal		999,049		52,460		33,900
Income (loss) from continuing operations		1,524,335		398,774		93,901
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		3,343		8,261		3,790
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		1,520,992		390,513		90,111
Dividends on preferred stock		(43,988)		(43,988)		(11,363)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		1,477,004		346,525		78,748
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		1,524,335		398,774		93,901
Derivative instruments, net of taxes
Interest rate swaps reclassified into results of operations, net of taxes		18,725		63,148		82,043
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(14,137)		(25,432)		(45,714)
Amounts reclassified into discontinued operations for foreign currency translation adjustments		(25,678)		0		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	[8]	(21,090)		37,716		36,329
Comprehensive income (loss)		1,503,245		436,490		130,230
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0		6,545		1,940
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 1,503,245		$ 429,945		$ 128,290
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 4.44		$ 1.04		$ 0.26
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 4.42		$ 1.04		$ 0.26
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)		333,002		332,302		298,083
Diluted (in shares)		334,062		333,265		299,293
Dividends/distributions declared per share		$ 3.35		$ 1,870.00		$ 0
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		2.99		0.13		0.10
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 2.98		$ 0.13		$ 0.10
Continuing Operations [Member]
Costs of Operations:
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ 481,298		$ 302,326		$ 48,638
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 1.45		$ 0.91		$ 0.16
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 1.44		$ 0.91		$ 0.16

[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately.

[2] Inclusive of $4.2 million related to the net write off of deferred financing costs, premiums and discounts.

[3] The losses predominately relate to cash losses, including make whole payments and are inclusive of $7.7 million related to the write off of deferred financing costs and discounts.

[4] The losses predominately relate to cash losses, including make whole payments.

[5] CCAL results are through May 28, 2015, which was the closing date of the Company's sale of CCAL.

[6] Exclusive of the gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax, as presented on the consolidated statement of operations.

[7] No interest expense has been allocated to discontinued operations.

[8] See the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the components of "total other comprehensive income (loss)" and note 9 with respect to the reclassification adjustment.