Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 856,936	$ 799,294
Network services and other		159,006	135,090
Net revenues		1,015,942	934,384
Operating expenses:
Site rental	[1]	265,017	252,621
Network services and other	[1]	98,808	80,971
General and administrative		100,724	97,581
Asset write-down charges		645	7,959
Acquisition and integration costs		5,650	5,638
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		288,549	277,875
Total operating expenses		759,393	722,645
Operating income (loss)		256,549	211,739
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(134,487)	(126,378)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		(3,525)	(30,550)
Interest income		370	174
Other income (expense)		4,600	(3,273)
Income (loss) before income taxes		123,507	51,712
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(4,369)	(3,872)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent		119,138	47,840
Net income (loss)		119,138	47,840
Dividends on preferred stock		0	(10,997)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		119,138	36,843
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		175	(579)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		175	(579)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 119,313	$ 47,261
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.33	$ 0.11
Diluted		$ 0.33	$ 0.11
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		360,832	334,155
Diluted		361,727	334,929
Continuing Operations [Member]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ 119,138	$ 36,843

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