Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 3,233,307		$ 3,018,413		$ 2,866,613
Network services and other		687,918		645,438		672,143
Net revenues		3,921,225		3,663,851		3,538,756
Costs of Operations:
Site rental	[1]	1,023,350		963,869		906,152
Network services and other	[1]	417,171		357,557		400,454
General and administrative		371,031		310,921		257,296
Asset write-down charges		34,453		33,468		14,246
Acquisition and integration costs		17,453		15,678		34,145
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,108,551		1,036,178		985,781
Total operating expenses		2,972,009		2,717,671		2,598,074
Operating income (loss)		949,216		946,180		940,682
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(515,032)		(527,128)		(573,291)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		(52,291)	[2]	(4,157)	[3]	(44,629)	[4]
Interest income		796		1,906		315
Other income (expense)		(8,835)		57,028		11,993
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		373,854		473,829		335,070
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(16,881)		51,457		11,244
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		356,973		525,286		346,314
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		0		19,690	[5],[6],[7]	52,460	[5],[6],[7]
Net Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		0		979,359		0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		0		999,049		52,460
Income (loss) from continuing operations		356,973		1,524,335		398,774
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0		3,343		8,261
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		356,973		1,520,992		390,513
Dividends on preferred stock		(32,991)		(43,988)		(43,988)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		323,982		1,477,004		346,525
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		356,973		1,524,335		398,774
Derivative instruments, net of taxes
Interest rate swaps reclassified into results of operations, net of taxes		0		18,725		63,148
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(1,490)		(14,137)		(25,432)
Amounts reclassified into discontinued operations for foreign currency translation adjustments		0		(25,678)		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	[8]	(1,490)		(21,090)		37,716
Comprehensive income (loss)		355,483		1,503,245		436,490
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0		0		6,545
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 355,483		$ 1,503,245		$ 429,945
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.95		$ 4.44		$ 1.04
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.95		$ 4.42		$ 1.04
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic (in shares)		340,349		333,002		332,302
Diluted (in shares)		340,879		334,062		333,265
Dividends/distributions declared per share		$ 3.61		$ 3,350.00		$ 1,870.00
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		0.00		2.99		0.13
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.00		$ 2.98		$ 0.13
Continuing Operations [Member]
Costs of Operations:
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ 323,982		$ 481,298		$ 302,326
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.95		$ 1.45		$ 0.91
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.95		$ 1.44		$ 0.91

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

[2] Inclusive of $33.8 million related to the write off of deferred financing costs.

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

[4] (b)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.

[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.