<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-016721
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030730
<FILING-DATE>20030801
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<CIK>0001051470
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4899
<IRS-NUMBER>760470458
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>510 BERING DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
<PHONE>7135703000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>510 BERING DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ABERY PETER G
<CIK>0001213147
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16441
<FILM-NUMBER>03817903
</FILING-VALUES>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd14580.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - RSA
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213147</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ABERY PETER G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>510 BERING DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres. &amp; Managing Director-CCUK</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>F</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>26667</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>9.88</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>146666</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld by the issuer to satisfy the Reporting person's tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of certain shares of restricted stock previously granted to the Reporting Person. Such withholding is exempt from Section 16(b) pursuant to Rule 16b-3(e).</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Peter G. Abery</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
