Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 1,153	$ 857
Network services and other		146	159
Net revenues		1,299	1,016
Operating expenses:
Site rental	[1]	347	265
Network services and other	[1]	86	99
General and administrative		134	101
Asset write-down charges		3	1
Acquisition and integration costs		6	6
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		374	289
Total operating expenses		950	761
Operating income (loss)		349	255
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(160)	(134)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		(71)	(4)
Interest income		1	0
Other income (expense)		(1)	6
Income (loss) before income taxes		118	123
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(4)	(4)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		114	119
Dividends on preferred stock		(28)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		86	119
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 114	$ 119
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.21	$ 0.33
Diluted		$ 0.21	$ 0.33
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions):
Basic		409	361
Diluted		410	362
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared		$ 1.050	$ 0.950

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