Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 210,040	$ 179,864
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	402,528	330,906
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable	382	38
Deferred rent expense	13,457	15,648
Cost of abandoned cell sites	650	1,450
Stock-based compensation expense	32,142	35,103
Non-cash interest expense	6,141	10,049
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets	2,731	(16,461)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	9,536	15,590
Gain on sale of investments	(441)	(340)
Accretion of asset retirement obligations	4,198	2,772
Other non-cash expense	0	1,455
Deferred income taxes	119,290	114,105
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Inventories	14,047	21,199
Accounts receivable, net	(7,373)	4,761
Prepaid expenses	(16,289)	(11,885)
Deferred charges	2,307	(4,263)
Other assets	24,755	15,730
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(90,087)	(50,921)
Deferred revenue	19,225	10,474
Other liabilities	6,421	4,117
Net cash provided by operating activities	753,660	679,391
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(699,625)	(547,943)
Change in prepaid purchases of property and equipment	(65,241)	60,348
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	845	7,643
Purchase of investments	(462,289)	(1,174,773)
Proceeds from maturity of investments	537,500	387,500
Change in restricted cash and investments	300	1,262
Acquisitions of FCC licenses and microwave clearing costs	(4,003)	(3,686)
Cash used in asset acquisitions	(7,495)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(700,008)	(1,269,649)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in book overdraft	14,081	(78,765)
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of discount	1,497,500	992,770
Debt issuance costs	(15,351)	(24,250)
Repayment of debt	(17,945)	(12,000)
Retirement of long-term debt	(535,792)	(327,529)
Payments on capital lease obligations	(6,222)	(2,923)
Purchase of treasury stock	(4,359)	(1,586)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	58,666	4,944
Net cash provided by financing activities	990,578	550,661
INCREASE (DECREASE) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	1,044,230	(39,597)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	796,531	929,381
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 1,840,761	$ 889,784