Schedule III - Schedule of Real Estate and Depreciation (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) tower	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances Secured by Assets		$ 5,700,000
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Number of Units | tower		39,697
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation, Amount of Encumbrances	[1]	$ 9,752,747
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation		(5,648,598)	$ (4,917,542)
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation, Depreciation Expense		(759,332)
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation, Real Estate Sold		23,946
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation, Other Deductions		4,330
Real Estate Period Deductions to Accumulated Depreciation		28,276
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Gross		15,110,835	$ 13,795,914
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Other Acquisitions	[2],[3]	424,919
Wireless Infrastructure Construction		713,465
Purchase of land interests		90,496
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Improvements		75,888
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Other Additions	[4]	61,801
Real Estate Period Additions to Cost		1,366,569
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Cost of Real Estate Sold		$ (51,648)

[1] As of December 31, 2015, $5.7 billion of the Company's debt is secured by (1) a security interest in substantially all of the applicable issuers' assignable personal property, (2) a pledge of the equity interests in each applicable issuer, and (3) a security interest in the applicable issuers' leases with tenants to lease tower space (space licenses). In addition, the 2012 Credit Facility is secured by a pledge of certain equity interests of certain subsidiaries of CCIC, as well as a security interest in CCOC's and certain of its subsidiaries' deposit accounts and securities accounts.

[2] Includes acquisitions of wireless infrastructure.

[3] Inclusive of changes between the final purchase price allocation and the preliminary purchase price allocations.

[4] The Company has omitted this information, as it would be impracticable to compile such information on a tower-by-tower basis.