Schedule III - Schedule of Real Estate and Depreciation (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]

SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation Disclosure [Text Block]

Description	Encumbrances			Initial Cost to Company	Cost Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition	Gross Amount Carried at Close of Current Period			Accumulated Depreciation at Close of Current Period			Date of Construction	Date Acquired	Life on Which Depreciation in Latest Income Statement is Computed
40,153 towers(1)	$	7,211,677	(2)	(3)	(3)	$	16,120,896	(4)	$	(6,446,448	)	Various	Various	Up to 20 years

(1) Amount is exclusive of small cell nodes. No single tower exceeds 5% of the aggregate gross amounts at which the assets were carried at the close of the period set forth in the table above.

(2) As of December 31, 2016, $4.6 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).

(3) The Company has omitted this information, as it would be impracticable to compile such information on a tower-by-tower basis.

(4) Does not include those towers under construction.

	2016			2015
Gross amount at beginning	$	15,110,835		$	13,795,914
Additions during period:
Acquisitions through foreclosure	—			—
Other acquisitions (1)(2)	130,139			424,919
Wireless infrastructure construction and improvements	709,538			713,465
Purchase of land interests	74,579			90,496
Sustaining capital expenditures	55,417			75,888
Other (3)	95,049			61,801
Total additions	1,064,722			1,366,569
Deductions during period:
Cost of real estate sold or disposed	(54,661		)	(51,648		)
Other	—			—
Total deductions:	(54,661		)	(51,648		)
Balance at end	$	16,120,896		$	15,110,835

(1) Inclusive of changes between the final purchase price allocation and the preliminary purchase price allocations.

(2) Includes acquisitions of wireless infrastructure.

(3) Predominately relates to the purchase of property and equipment under capital leases and installment land purchases.

	2016			2015
Gross amount of accumulated depreciation at beginning	$	(5,648,598	)	$	(4,917,542	)
Additions during period:
Depreciation	(810,549		)	(759,332		)
Total additions	(810,549		)	(759,332		)
Deductions during period:
Amount for assets sold or disposed	24,190			23,946
Other	(11,491		)	4,330
Total deductions	12,699			28,276
Balance at end	$	(6,446,448	)	$	(5,648,598	)