<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-06-016581
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20060307
<FILING-DATE>20060309
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20060309
<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>06676256
</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>b59624cf.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <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>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>253222</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents a gift of such shares to charity pursuant to Rule 16b-5.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Certain of these shares are subject to an agreement between Mr. Ferenbach and Berkshire Partners pursuant to which Berkshire Partners has an economic interest in such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Carl Ferenbach</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
