<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-03-034794
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20031209
<FILING-DATE>20031209
<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>HUTCHESON EDWARD C JR
<CIK>0001183834
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16441
<FILM-NUMBER>031045604
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>TITANIUM METALS CORP
<STREET2>1999 BROADWAY SUITE 4300
<CITY>DENVER
<STATE>CO
<ZIP>80202
<PHONE>3032965643
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5599 SAN FELIPE
<STREET2>SUITE 555
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77056
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd25028.xml
<DESCRIPTION>DECEMBER 2003
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183834</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUTCHESON EDWARD C JR</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>126216</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents a gift of such shares to a charity prusuant to Rule 16b-5.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Edward C. Hutcheson, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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