Operating Segments Operating Segments (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018								Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
	Towers		Fiber		Other		Consolidated Total		Towers		Fiber		Other		Consolidated Total
Segment site rental revenues	$	764	$	389			$	1,153	$	717	$	140			$	857
Segment network services and other revenues	142		4				146		150		9				159
Segment revenues	906		393				1,299		867		149				1,016
Segment site rental cost of operations	211		126				337		209		47				256
Segment network services and other cost of operations	82		2				84		89		8				97
Segment cost of operations(a)	293		128				421		298		55				353
Segment site rental gross margin	553		263				816		508		93				601
Segment network services and other gross margin	60		2				62		61		1				62
Segment general and administrative expenses(a)	26		43				69		24		18				42
Segment operating profit (loss)	587		222				809		545		76				621
Other general and administrative expenses(a)					$	46	46						$	39	39
Stock-based compensation expense					26		26						25		25
Depreciation, amortization and accretion					374		374						289		289
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs					160		160						134		134
Other income (expenses) to reconcile to income (loss) before income taxes(b)					85		85						11		11
Income (loss) before income taxes							$	118							$	123
Capital expenditures	$	96	$	262	$	12	$	370	$	101	$	154	$	7	$	262
Total assets (at period end)	$	17,868	$	13,883	$	499	$	32,250	$	18,255	$	5,054	$	468	$	23,777

(a) Segment cost of operations excludes (1) stock-based compensation expense of $7 million and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $5 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. General and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $19 million and $20 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(b) See condensed consolidated statement of operations for further information.