CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 737,506	$ 450,412
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	1,137,398	932,972
Stock-based compensation expense	70,212	72,251
(Gain) loss on early retirement of long-term obligations	(830)	78,793
Other non-cash items reflected in statements of operations	120,170	143,412
Decrease in restricted cash	4,126	19,971
Increase in net deferred rent balances	(51,762)	(69,019)
Increase in assets	(8,863)	(106,535)
(Decrease) increase in liabilities	(29,526)	21,358
Cash provided by operating activities	1,978,431	1,543,615
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Payments for purchase of property and equipment and construction activities	(475,174)	(518,018)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,309,915)	(1,616,205)
Payment for Verizon transaction	(4,748)	(5,058,895)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments and other non-current assets	4,459	1,002,214
Payments for short-term investments	0	(1,011,320)
Deposits, restricted cash, investments and other	(824)	(2,053)
Cash used for investing activities	(1,786,202)	(7,204,277)
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
(Repayments of) proceeds from of short-term borrowings, net	(7,337)	8,282
Borrowings under credit facilities	1,529,477	5,727,831
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	3,236,383	1,492,298
Proceeds from term loan	0	500,000
Proceeds from other borrowings	70,806	0
Proceeds from issuance of securities in securitization transaction	0	875,000
Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, senior notes, term loan and capital leases	(4,116,645)	(6,092,710)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net	(700)	4,449
Proceeds from stock options and ESPP	76,601	29,324
Distributions paid on common stock	(651,966)	(516,012)
Distributions paid on preferred stock	(80,344)	(57,866)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net	0	2,440,327
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock, net	0	1,337,946
Payment for early retirement of long-term obligations	(125)	(86,107)
Deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(29,423)	(30,314)
Cash provided by financing activities	26,727	5,632,448
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(9,284)	2,126
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	209,672	(26,088)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	320,686	313,492
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	530,358	287,404
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
CASH PAID FOR INCOME TAXES (NET OF REFUNDS OF $16,219 AND $5,206, RESPECTIVELY)	71,868	130,231
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST	516,382	472,079
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses for purchases of property and equipment and construction activities	(36,609)	(6,703)
Purchases of property and equipment under capital leases	37,049	19,870
Settlement of accounts receivable related to acquisitions	$ 0	$ 735