Operating Segments Operating Segments Table (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Tower Count		40,000
Segment site rental revenues		$ 799,294	$ 731,380
Segment network services and other revenues		$ 135,090	169,091
Fiber Miles		16,500
Segment revenues		$ 934,384	900,471
Segment site rental cost of operations	[1]	252,621	232,213
Segment network services and other cost of operations	[1]	80,971	86,918
Segment general and administrative expenses		97,581	74,056
Stock-based compensation expense		19,895	15,244
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		277,875	251,806
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		126,378	134,439
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		51,712	110,299
Capital expenditures		193,489	201,653
Total Assets		21,718,251		$ 21,936,966
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments		5,200
Segment cost of operations share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		8,300	3,200
Towers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment site rental revenues		702,840	674,907
Segment network services and other revenues		125,010	156,385
Segment revenues		827,850	831,292
Segment site rental cost of operations	[2]	204,565	204,633
Segment network services and other cost of operations	[2]	69,989	76,191
Segment cost of operations	[2]	274,554	280,824
Segment site rental gross margin		498,275	470,274
Segment network services gross margin		55,021	80,194
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	23,599	22,722
Segment Operating Profit		529,697	527,746
Capital expenditures		111,041	133,133
Small Cells [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment site rental revenues		96,454	56,473
Segment network services and other revenues		10,080	12,706
Segment revenues		106,534	69,179
Segment site rental cost of operations	[2]	37,483	20,513
Segment network services and other cost of operations	[2]	8,035	9,454
Segment cost of operations	[2]	45,518	29,967
Segment site rental gross margin		58,971	35,960
Segment network services gross margin		2,045	3,252
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	15,522	7,560
Segment Operating Profit		45,494	31,652
Capital expenditures		80,153	62,903
Consolidated Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment site rental revenues		799,294	731,380
Segment network services and other revenues		135,090	169,091
Segment revenues		934,384	900,471
Segment site rental cost of operations	[2]	242,048	225,146
Segment network services and other cost of operations	[2]	78,024	85,645
Segment cost of operations	[2]	320,072	310,791
Segment site rental gross margin		557,246	506,234
Segment network services gross margin		57,066	83,446
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	75,192	60,380
Segment Operating Profit		539,120	529,300
Stock-based compensation expense		30,705	16,841
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		277,875	251,806
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		126,378	134,439
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		52,450	15,915
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		51,712	110,299
Capital expenditures		193,489	201,653
Total Assets		21,718,251	20,999,830
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	36,071	30,098
Segment Operating Profit		(36,071)	(30,098)
Stock-based compensation expense		30,705	16,841
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		277,875	251,806
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		126,378	134,439
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		52,450	15,915
Capital expenditures		2,295	5,617
Total Assets			526,493
Segment G&A share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 22,400	$ 13,700

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

[2] Segment cost of operations exclude (1) stock-based compensation expense of $8.3 million and $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $5.2 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. Segment general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $22.4 million and $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.