Operating Segments and Concentrations of Credit Risk Operating Segment Results (Details) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Tower Count		40,000
Small cells on Air on Under Contract		115,000
Fiber Miles		90,000
Site rental revenues		$ 6,532		$ 6,289		$ 5,719
Services and other revenues		449		697		621
Net Revenues		6,981		6,986		6,340
Site rental	[1]	1,664		1,602		1,554
Segment Site Rental Cost of Operations		1,629		1,568		1,522
Segment services and other cost of operations	[1]	316		466		439
Segment Services and Other Cost of Operations		306		456		431
Segment cost of operations		1,935	[2],[3]	2,024	[4],[5]	1,953	[6],[7]
Segment site rental gross margin		4,903		4,721		4,197
Segment services and other gross margin		143		241		190
Selling, general and administrative		759		750		680
Segment General and Administrative Expenses		298	[2]	305	[4]	281	[6]
Segment Operating Profit		4,748		4,657		4,106
Stock-based compensation expense, net		157		156		129
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,754		1,707		1,644
Restructuring Charges		85		0		0
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net		850		699		657
Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, before Tax, Total		1,528		1,691		1,179
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets		(1,424)		(1,310)		(1,229)
Assets		38,527		38,921		39,040
Goodwill		10,085		10,085		10,078
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments		16		16		18
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense		157		156		131
Segments [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges		85
Towers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site rental revenues		4,313		4,322		3,804
Services and other revenues		421		685		601
Net Revenues		4,734		5,007		4,405
Site rental		943		918		889
Segment services and other cost of operations		294		447		414
Segment cost of operations		1,237	[2],[3]	1,365	[4],[5]	1,303	[6],[7]
Segment site rental gross margin		3,370		3,404		2,915
Segment services and other gross margin		127		238		187
Selling, general and administrative		104	[2]	115	[4]	107	[6]
Segment Operating Profit		3,393		3,527		2,995
Restructuring Charges		44
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets		(194)		(185)		(221)
Assets		21,550		22,210		22,318
Goodwill		5,127		5,127		5,127
Fiber [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site rental revenues		2,219		1,967		1,915
Services and other revenues		28		12		20
Net Revenues		2,247		1,979		1,935
Site rental		686		650		633
Segment services and other cost of operations		12		9		17
Segment cost of operations		698	[2],[3]	659	[4],[5]	650	[6],[7]
Segment site rental gross margin		1,533		1,317		1,282
Segment services and other gross margin		16		3		3
Selling, general and administrative		194	[2]	190	[4]	174	[6]
Segment Operating Profit		1,355		1,130		1,111
Restructuring Charges		18
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets		(1,175)		(1,058)		(956)
Assets		16,308		16,010		15,876
Goodwill		4,958		4,958		4,951
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative		333	[2]	317	[4]	290	[6]
Stock-based compensation expense, net		157		156		131
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,754		1,707		1,644
Restructuring Charges		85
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net		850		699		657
Other Expenses		41	[8]	87	[9]	205	[8]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets		(55)		(67)		(52)
Assets		669		701		846
Goodwill		0		0		0
Segment cost of operations share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense, net		29		28		22
Segment G&A share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense, net		128
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense		$ 128		$ 128		$ 109

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

[2] Segment costs of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 excludes (1) stock-based compensation expense, net of $29 million and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $16 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023, segment selling, general and administrative expenses and other selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense, net of $128 million.

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

[4] Segment costs of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 excludes (1) stock-based compensation expense, net of $28 million and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $16 million. For the year ended December 31, 2022, segment selling, general and administrative expenses and other selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense, net of $128 million.

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

[6] Segment costs of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 excludes (1) stock-based compensation expense, net of $22 million and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $18 million. For the year ended December 31, 2021, segment selling, general and administrative expenses and other selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense, net of $109 million. (c)See consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for further information.

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

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

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