Operating Segments Operating Segments Table (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Tower Count		40,000				40,000
Fiber Miles		85,000				85,000
Small Cells on Air		120,000				120,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments		$ 4		$ 4		$ 8
Site Rental		1,728		1,567		3,352		$ 3,143
Services and other		139		167		288		333
Segment Revenues		1,867		1,734		3,640		3,476
Segment site rental cost of operations	[1]	424		402		839		798
Services and other	[1]	98		112		202		225
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		210		190		405		371
Stock-based compensation expense, net						91		83
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		445		427		876		847
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net		208		165		410		329
Capital expenditures						720		584
Total Assets		39,042				39,042				$ 38,921
Segments [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		1,728		1,567		3,352		3,143
Services and other		139		167		288		333
Segment Revenues		1,867		1,734		3,640		3,476
Segment site rental cost of operations		414		394		820		781
Services and other		95		109		196		220
Segment cost of operations	[2]	509	[3]	503	[3]	1,016	[4]	1,001	[4]
Segment site rental gross margin		1,314		1,173		2,532		2,362
Segment services gross margin		44		58		92		113
Segment General and Administrative Expenses [Line Items]		81	[3]	74	[3]	161	[4]	149	[4]
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		88		79		170		153
Segment Operating Profit		1,277		1,157		2,463		2,326
Stock-based compensation expense, net		50		44		91		83
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		445		427		876		847
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net		208		165		410		329
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	[5]	24		16		28		61
Income (loss) before income taxes		462		426		888		853
Capital expenditures		379		303		720		584
Total Assets		39,042		39,013		39,042		39,013
Segment cost of operations share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense, net		9		7		17		14
Towers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		1,080		1,078		2,161		2,153
Services and other		124		164		270		327
Segment Revenues		1,204		1,242		2,431		2,480
Segment site rental cost of operations		243		232		477		458
Services and other		92		107		191		216
Segment cost of operations	[2]	335	[3]	339	[3]	668	[4]	674	[4]
Segment site rental gross margin		837		846		1,684		1,695
Segment services gross margin		32		57		79		111
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		30	[3]	28	[3]	61	[4]	56	[4]
Segment Operating Profit		839		875		1,702		1,750
Capital expenditures		61		45		111		92
Total Assets		21,973		22,286		21,973		22,286
Fiber [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		648		489		1,191		990
Services and other		15		3		18		6
Segment Revenues		663		492		1,209		996
Segment site rental cost of operations		171		162		343		323
Services and other		3		2		5		4
Segment cost of operations	[2]	174	[3]	164	[3]	348	[4]	327	[4]
Segment site rental gross margin		477		327		848		667
Segment services gross margin		12		1		13		2
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		51	[3]	46	[3]	100	[4]	93	[4]
Segment Operating Profit		438		282		761		576
Capital expenditures		306		247		585		469
Total Assets		16,166		15,859		16,166		15,859
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		88		79		170		153
Stock-based compensation expense, net		50		44		91		83
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		445		427		876		847
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net		208		165		410		329
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	[5]	24		16		28		61
Capital expenditures		12		11		24		23
Total Assets		903		868		903		868
Segment G&A share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense, net		$ 41		$ 37		$ 74		$ 69

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

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

[3] Segment costs of operations excludes (1) stock-based compensation expense, net of $9 million and $7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $4 million for each of the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. Segment selling, general and administrative expenses and other selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense, net of $41 million and $37 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

[4] Segment costs of operations excludes (1) stock-based compensation expense, net of $17 million and $14 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $8 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. Segment selling, general and administrative expenses and other selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense, net of $74 million and $69 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

[5] See condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for further information.