Business, Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Business, Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Business, Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies	Note 1 – Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies *Nature of the Business* MasTec, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, "MasTec" or the "Company") is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America across a range of industries. The Company's activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of energy, utility and communications infrastructure, such as: electrical utility transmission and distribution; power generation; natural gas and petroleum pipeline infrastructure; wireless, wireline and satellite communications; wind farms, solar farms and other renewable energy; industrial infrastructure; and water and sewer systems. MasTec's customers are primarily in the utility, communications and government industries. *Basis of Presentation* The accompanying condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Pursuant to these rules and regulations, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 is derived from the Company's audited financial statements as of that date. Because certain information and footnote disclosures have been condensed or omitted, these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In management's opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented have been included. Interim period operating results do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. The Company believes that the disclosures made in these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information not misleading. *Principles of Consolidation* The accompanying condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements include MasTec, Inc. and its subsidiaries and include the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control and, when applicable, entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Other parties' interests in companies for which MasTec exercises control and has a controlling financial interest are reported as non-controlling interests within shareholders' equity. Net income or loss attributable to non-controlling interests is reported as a separate line item below net income. The Company's investments in entities in which the Company does not have a controlling interest, but has the ability to exert significant influence, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Equity method investments are recorded as long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Income or loss from these investments is recorded in other income or expense, net, in the consolidated statements of operations. The cost method is used for investments in entities in which the Company does not have the ability to exert significant influence. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. *Management Estimates* The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Key estimates include: the recognition of revenue, in particular, on long-term construction contracts, including estimates to complete and provisions for contract losses; allowances for doubtful accounts; accrued self-insured claims; estimated fair values of goodwill and intangible assets, acquisition-related contingent consideration, investments in equity method investees, securities available for sale and certain convertible debt obligations; asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization, including amortization of intangible assets; accounting for income taxes; and the estimated impact of contingencies and ongoing litigation. While management believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial position and results of operations taken as a whole, actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the condensed unaudited financial statements. *Significant Accounting Policies* Except for adoption of the accounting pronouncements discussed below, there have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. *Reclassifications* Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. *Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements* In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("ASU 2011-04"). The objective of ASU 2011-04 is to converge guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board on fair value measurement and disclosure. This update changes the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements; clarifies the FASB's intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements; and changes particular principles or requirements for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04, which the Company adopted as of January 1, 2012, is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. See fair value disclosures in Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2011-05"). The objective of ASU 2011-05 is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 provides the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU 2011-05 ("ASU 2011-12"), which defers those provisions in ASU 2011-05 relating to the presentation of reclassification adjustments. ASU 2011-12 reinstates the requirements for the presentation of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income that were in place before ASU 2011-05. The remaining provisions of ASU 2011-05 are effective retrospectively for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. ASU 2011-12, which the Company adopted as of January 1, 2012, is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. See the condensed unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income for related disclosures.

Note 1 – Business, Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of the Business

MasTec, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, "MasTec" or the "Company") is a leading infrastructure construction company operating mainly throughout North America across a range of industries. The Company's activities include the engineering, building, installation, maintenance and upgrade of energy, utility and communications infrastructure, such as: electrical utility transmission and distribution; power generation; natural gas and petroleum pipeline infrastructure; wireless, wireline and satellite communications; wind farms, solar farms and other renewable energy; industrial infrastructure; and water and sewer systems. MasTec's customers are primarily in the utility, communications and government industries.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Pursuant to these rules and regulations, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 is derived from the Company's audited financial statements as of that date. Because certain information and footnote disclosures have been condensed or omitted, these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In management's opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented have been included. Interim period operating results do not necessarily indicate the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. The Company believes that the disclosures made in these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements are adequate to make the information not misleading.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements include MasTec, Inc. and its subsidiaries and include the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control and, when applicable, entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Other parties' interests in companies for which MasTec exercises control and has a controlling financial interest are reported as non-controlling interests within shareholders' equity. Net income or loss attributable to non-controlling interests is reported as a separate line item below net income. The Company's investments in entities in which the Company does not have a controlling interest, but has the ability to exert significant influence, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Equity method investments are recorded as long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. Income or loss from these investments is recorded in other income or expense, net, in the consolidated statements of operations. The cost method is used for investments in entities in which the Company does not have the ability to exert significant influence. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Management Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Key estimates include: the recognition of revenue, in particular, on long-term construction contracts, including estimates to complete and provisions for contract losses; allowances for doubtful accounts; accrued self-insured claims; estimated fair values of goodwill and intangible assets, acquisition-related contingent consideration, investments in equity method investees, securities available for sale and certain convertible debt obligations; asset lives used in computing depreciation and amortization, including amortization of intangible assets; accounting for income taxes; and the estimated impact of contingencies and ongoing litigation. While management believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial position and results of operations taken as a whole, actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the condensed unaudited financial statements.

Significant Accounting Policies

Except for adoption of the accounting pronouncements discussed below, there have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("ASU 2011-04"). The objective of ASU 2011-04 is to converge guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board on fair value measurement and disclosure. This update changes the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and disclosing information about fair value measurements; clarifies the FASB's intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements; and changes particular principles or requirements for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04, which the Company adopted as of January 1, 2012, is effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. See fair value disclosures in Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income ("ASU 2011-05"). The objective of ASU 2011-05 is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting and to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 provides the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in ASU 2011-05 ("ASU 2011-12"), which defers those provisions in ASU 2011-05 relating to the presentation of reclassification adjustments. ASU 2011-12 reinstates the requirements for the presentation of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income that were in place before ASU 2011-05. The remaining provisions of ASU 2011-05 are effective retrospectively for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. ASU 2011-12, which the Company adopted as of January 1, 2012, is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. See the condensed unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income for related disclosures.