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Debt and Other Obligations (Textuals) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations $ 12,171,142 $ 12,149,959  
Borrowings under revolving credit facility 3,440,000 1,790,000 $ 1,019,000
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount 4,026,390 1,069,361 800,000
Principal balance outstanding on debt instruments 12,261,677    
Cash and equivalents $ 567,599 178,810  
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description 7.0 to 1.0    
Variable Rate Revolver [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Availability on revolver $ 2,500,000    
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt 2010 Tower Revenue Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Interest rate, increase (decrease) 5.00%    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 2,300,000    
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt January 2010 Tower Revenue Notes First Tranche [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount     300,000
Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations $ 226,847 $ 209,765  
Contractual maturity date, start 1 year    
Contractual maturity date, end 30 years    
2016 Revolver [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 500,000    
High Yield Bonds - Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Redemption pricing percentage of principal amount   100.00%  
Securitized Debt [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 3,345,805 $ 4,007,123  
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.222% due 2042 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 300,000    
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 700,000    
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes 5 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 0 298,774  
Bank Debt [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 1,954,173 3,972,448  
Bank Debt [Member] | Senior Unsecured 364-Day Revolving Credit Facility [Domain]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 1,000,000    
Bank Debt [Member] | 2016 Revolver [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 2,500,000    
Total debt and other obligations 0 [1] 0  
Bank Debt [Member] | 2016 Term Loan A [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 1,954,173 0  
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 2,000,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2],[3] 0.00%    
2012 secured notes tranche A [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations $ 500,000    
High Yield Bonds [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 6,644,317 3,960,623  
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Fixed Rate High Yield Bonds 7Point125 Percent Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Repayments of Debt 500,000    
High Yield Bonds [Member] | May 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 1,000,000    
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.875% Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 840,322 838,579  
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 850,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.90%    
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Domain]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 1,500,000    
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.400% Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations 849,698 0  
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 250,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.40%    
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.700% Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations $ 741,908 0  
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 750,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 3.70%    
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.450% Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations $ 890,118 $ 0  
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 900,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage [2] 4.50%    
2.250% Senior Notes [Member] | September 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 700,000    
Issuance of debt obligation [Member] | 4.875% Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt 839,000    
2012 Revolver [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount 0    
2012 secured notes tranche B [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations $ 1,000,000    
Maximum [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver 2012 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 2.00%    
Maximum [Member] | Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 10.00%    
Minimum [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver 2012 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 1.10%    
August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes ARD [Domain] | Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes 5 [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Total debt and other obligations     $ 250,000
Collateral Pledged [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, PPE Collaterized Amount $ 1,200,000    
February 2016 Senior Note Upsizing [Member] | High Yield Bonds [Member] | 3.400% Senior Notes [Member]      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]      
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 600,000    
[1] As of December 31, 2016, the undrawn availability under the 2016 Revolver was $2.5 billion.
[2] Represents the weighted-average stated interest rate.
[3] The 2016 Revolver and senior unsecured term loan A ("2016 Term Loan A") bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus a credit spread ranging from 1.125% to 2.000%, based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating. The Company pays a commitment fee of approximately 0.200% per annum on the undrawn available amount under the 2016 Revolver.