Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 804,600	$ 737,091		$ 1,603,893		$ 1,468,471
Network services and other		157,809	162,346		292,899		331,437
Net revenues		962,409	899,437		1,896,792		1,799,908
Operating expenses:
Site rental	[1]	252,852	237,031		505,472		469,244
Network services and other	[1]	95,867	89,400		176,838		176,318
General and administrative		91,386	73,125		188,967		147,181
Asset write-down charges		11,952	3,620		19,912		12,175
Acquisition and integration costs		3,141	2,377		8,779		4,393
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		276,026	253,153		553,901		504,959
Total operating expenses		731,224	658,706		1,453,869		1,314,270
Operating income (loss)		231,185	240,731		442,923		485,638
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(129,362)	(134,466)		(255,740)		(268,905)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		(11,468)	(4,181)		(42,017)	[2]	(4,157)
Interest income		105	325		279		381
Other income (expense)		(518)	59,973		(3,791)		59,724
Income (loss) before income taxes		89,942	162,382		141,654		272,681
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(3,884)	4,144		(7,756)		5,579
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent		86,058	166,526		133,898		278,260
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	6,312	[3],[4],[5]	0		19,690	[3],[4],[5]
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax		0	981,540		0		981,540
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax and Gain (Loss) on Disposal			987,852		0		1,001,230
Net income (loss)		86,058	1,154,378		133,898		1,279,490
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0	1,018		0		3,343
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		86,058	1,153,360		133,898		1,276,147
Dividends on preferred stock		(10,997)	(10,997)		(21,994)		(21,994)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		75,061	1,142,363		111,904		1,254,153
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified into interest expense and amortization deferred financing costs, net of taxes		0	7,490		0		14,981
Foreign currency translation adjustments		971	3,401		392		(12,861)
Amounts reclassified into discontinued operations for foreign currency translation adjustments		0	(25,678)		0		(25,678)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		971	(14,787)		392		(23,558)
Comprehensive income (loss)		87,029	1,139,591		134,290		1,255,932
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0	1,401		0		2,471
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 87,029	$ 1,138,190		$ 134,290		$ 1,253,461
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.22	$ 3.43		$ 0.33		$ 3.77
Diluted		$ 0.22	$ 3.42		$ 0.33		$ 3.76
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		337,560	333,091		335,857		332,902
Diluted		338,609	333,733		336,658		333,665
Continuing Operations [Member]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ 75,061	$ 155,529		$ 111,904		$ 256,266
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.22	$ 0.47		$ 0.33		$ 0.77
Diluted		$ 0.22	$ 0.47		$ 0.33		$ 0.77
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ 0	$ 986,834		$ 0		$ 997,887
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.00	$ 2.96		$ 0.00		$ 3.00
Diluted		$ 0.00	$ 2.95		$ 0.00		$ 2.99

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

[2] Inclusive of $32.0 million related to the write off of deferred financing costs.

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

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

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