Operating Segments Operating Segments Table (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Tower Count		40,000
Segment site rental revenues		$ 856,936	$ 799,294
Segment network services and other revenues		$ 159,006	135,090
Fiber Miles		27,500
Segment revenues		$ 1,015,942	934,384
Segment site rental cost of operations	[1]	265,017	252,621
Segment network services and other cost of operations	[1]	98,808	80,971
Segment general and administrative expenses		100,724	97,581
Stock-based compensation expense		22,226	19,895
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		288,549	277,875
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		134,487	126,378
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		123,507	51,712
Capital expenditures		262,415	193,489
Total Assets		23,776,842		$ 22,675,092
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments		5,100	5,200
Segment cost of operations share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		4,900	8,300
Towers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment site rental revenues		716,536	702,840
Segment network services and other revenues		149,615	125,010
Segment revenues		866,151	827,850
Segment site rental cost of operations		209,464	204,565
Segment network services and other cost of operations		88,936	69,989
Segment cost of operations	[2]	298,400	274,554
Segment site rental gross margin		507,072	498,275
Segment network services gross margin		60,679	55,021
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	23,760	23,599
Segment Operating Profit		543,991	529,697
Capital expenditures		101,475	111,041
Total Assets		18,255,108	18,090,100
Small Cells [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment site rental revenues		140,400	96,454
Segment network services and other revenues		9,391	10,080
Segment revenues		149,791	106,534
Segment site rental cost of operations		47,246	37,483
Segment network services and other cost of operations		8,229	8,035
Segment cost of operations	[2]	55,475	45,518
Segment site rental gross margin		93,154	58,971
Segment network services gross margin		1,162	2,045
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	17,689	15,522
Segment Operating Profit		76,627	45,494
Capital expenditures		154,266	80,153
Total Assets		5,053,536	3,188,474
Consolidated Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment site rental revenues		856,936	799,294
Segment network services and other revenues		159,006	135,090
Segment revenues		1,015,942	934,384
Segment site rental cost of operations		256,710	242,048
Segment network services and other cost of operations		97,165	78,024
Segment cost of operations	[2]	353,875	320,072
Segment site rental gross margin		600,226	557,246
Segment network services gross margin		61,841	57,066
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	80,655	75,192
Segment Operating Profit		581,412	539,120
Stock-based compensation expense		24,942	30,705
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		288,549	277,875
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		134,487	126,378
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		9,927	52,450
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		123,507	51,712
Capital expenditures		262,415	193,489
Total Assets		23,776,842	21,718,251
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment general and administrative expenses	[2]	39,206	36,071
Segment Operating Profit		(39,206)	(36,071)
Stock-based compensation expense		24,942	30,705
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		288,549	277,875
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		134,487	126,378
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		9,927	52,450
Capital expenditures		6,674	2,295
Total Assets		468,198	439,677
Segment G&A share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 20,100	$ 22,400

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

[2] Segment cost of operations exclude (1) stock-based compensation expense of $4.9 million and $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $5.1 million and $5.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Segment general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $20.1 million and $22.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.