Operating Segments Operating Segments Table (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Tower Count		40,000
Fiber Miles		80,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments		$ 5
Site Rental		1,310	$ 1,242
Services and other		111	166
Segment Revenues		1,421	1,408
Segment site rental cost of operations	[1]	375	361
Services and other	[1]	99	124	[2]
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		175	152
Stock-based compensation expense		37	29
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		399	394
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		175	168
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		190	199
Capital expenditures		(447)	(480)
Total Assets		38,616	37,755		$ 38,457
Segment cost of operations share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		6
Towers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		867	828
Services and other		108	162
Segment Revenues		975	990
Segment site rental cost of operations		214	211
Services and other		95	120
Segment cost of operations	[3],[4]	309	331
Segment site rental gross margin		653	617
Segment services gross margin		13	42
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses	[3]	24	26
Segment Operating Profit		642	633
Capital expenditures		105	119
Total Assets		22,234	22,091
Fiber [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		443	414
Services and other		3	4
Segment Revenues		446	418
Segment site rental cost of operations		152	140
Services and other		2	3
Segment cost of operations	[3],[4]	154	143
Segment site rental gross margin		291	274
Segment services gross margin		1	1
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses	[3]	51	48
Segment Operating Profit		241	227
Capital expenditures		328	355
Total Assets		15,520	14,930
Consolidated Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		1,310	1,242
Services and other		111	166
Segment Revenues		1,421	1,408
Segment site rental cost of operations		366	351
Services and other		97	123
Segment cost of operations	[3],[4]	463	474
Segment site rental gross margin		944	891
Segment services gross margin		14	43
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses	[3]	75	74
Segment Operating Profit		883	860
Stock-based compensation expense		36	29
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		399	394
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		175	168
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	[5]	13	15
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest		190	199
Capital expenditures		447	480
Total Assets		38,616	37,755
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		70	55
Segment Operating Profit
Stock-based compensation expense		36	29
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		399	394
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		175	168
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	[5]	13	15
Capital expenditures		14	6
Total Assets		862	734
Segment G&A share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 30	$ 23

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

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

[3] Segment cost of operations excludes (1) stock-based compensation of $6 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $5 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. Selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $30 million and $23 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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

[5] See condensed consolidated statement of operations for further information.