CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 695,900	$ 473,771
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	817,495	739,399
Stock-based compensation expense	61,960	49,986
Loss (gain) on early retirement of long-term obligations	55,714	(830)
Other non-cash items reflected in statements of operations	(50,222)	53,464
Decrease in restricted cash	5,659	12,170
Increase in net deferred rent balances	(71,470)	(34,931)
Increase in assets	(101,982)	(32,984)
Increase in liabilities	65,404	51,271
Cash provided by operating activities	1,478,458	1,311,316
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Payments for purchase of property and equipment and construction activities	(371,512)	(319,427)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(857,220)	(1,216,467)
Payment for Verizon transaction	0	(4,748)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments and other non-current assets	7,196	2,601
Deposits, restricted cash, investments and other	7,025	(5,360)
Cash used for investing activities	(1,214,511)	(1,543,401)
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repayments of short-term borrowings, net	0	(2,843)
Borrowings under credit facilities	2,508,607	1,397,672
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	1,279,435	2,237,503
Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities, senior notes and capital leases	(3,126,661)	(2,858,415)
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interest holders, net	265,255	(503)
Purchases of common stock	(641,324)	0
Proceeds from stock options and ESPP	82,641	60,361
Distributions paid on common stock	(514,905)	(426,564)
Distributions paid on preferred stock	(53,562)	(53,563)
Payment for early retirement of long-term obligations	(61,764)	(125)
Deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(28,311)	(23,264)
Cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(290,589)	330,259
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	9,505	(8,322)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(17,137)	89,852
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	787,161	320,686
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	770,024	410,538
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]
CASH PAID FOR INCOME TAXES (NET OF REFUNDS OF $17,264 AND $14,011, RESPECTIVELY)	60,384	50,413
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST	351,991	288,880
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses for purchases of property and equipment and construction activities	8,696	(36,083)
Purchases of property and equipment under capital leases	$ 21,980	$ 21,651