Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment		$ 20,433,186	$ 16,418,534
Less: accumulated depreciation		(7,500,301)	(6,613,219)
Total property and equipment, net		12,932,885	9,805,315
Depreciation expense		914,900	832,700	$ 774,900
Capital Leased Assets, Gross		4,300,000
Accumulated Depreciation on Capital Lease Assets		1,700,000
Land owned in fee and perpetual easements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment	[1]	1,859,431	1,747,335
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment		$ 119,313	110,641
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		40 years
Wireless Infrastructure [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment		$ 17,183,482	13,825,394
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		20 years
Information technology assets and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment		$ 372,339	278,489
Construction in Process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Gross property and equipment		$ 898,621	$ 456,675
Minimum [Member] | Wireless Infrastructure [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		1 year
Minimum [Member] | Information technology assets and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		2 years
Maximum [Member] | Wireless Infrastructure [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		20 years
Maximum [Member] | Information technology assets and other [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life		7 years

[1] Includes land owned in fee and perpetual easements.