<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-03-021930
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030915
<FILING-DATE>20030917
<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>FERENBACH CARL
<CIK>0001021316
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>IL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16441
<FILM-NUMBER>03899358
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<STREET2>510 BERING DR STE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
<PHONE>7135703070
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<STREET2>510 BERING DR STE 500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77057
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bob47752fc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik><issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001021316</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FERENBACH CARL</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BERKSHIRE PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>ONE BOSTON PLACE, SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>12 3/4% Senior Exchangeable Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1596.79</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>1088.23</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7.7594</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By affiliated investment entities</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>6.25% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>250000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>36.97</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-15</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-09-15</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>338983.05</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>329000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By affiliated investment entities</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>6.25% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>329000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>35.875</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-15</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-09-15</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>446101.69</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By affiliated investment entitites</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The shares are beneficially owned by or through certain affiliated investment entities.  The Reporting Person disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares in which he does not have a pecuniary interest.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The 6.25% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock is exercisable immediately.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The 6.25% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock does not have an expiration date.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Includes shares of 12 3/4% Senior Exchangeable Preferred Stock that were received as fractional shares in connection with dividends paid on the 12 3/4% Senior Exchangeable Preferred Stock.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Carl Ferenbach</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SUBMISSION>
