v2.4.0.6

Intangible Assets and Deferred Credits | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Intangible Assets and Deferred Credits |
Intangible Assets and Deferred Credits | Intangible Assets and Deferred Credits For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded $23.4 million and $39.1 million, respectively, of site rental contracts and customer relationships. The following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets.
| As of December 31, 2011 |  | As of December 31, 2010
| Gross Carrying Value |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net Book Value |  | Gross Carrying Value |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net Book Value
Site rental contracts and customer relationships | $ | 2,823,832 |  |  | $ | (748,850 | ) |  | $ | 2,074,982 |  |  | $ | 2,799,804 |  |  | $ | (602,426 | ) |  | $ | 2,197,378 |
Other intangible assets | 152,375 |  |  | (49,175 | ) |  | 103,200 |  |  | 150,558 |  |  | (34,007 | ) |  | 116,551 |
Total | $ | 2,976,207 |  |  | $ | (798,025 | ) |  | $ | 2,178,182 |  |  | $ | 2,950,362 |  |  | $ | (636,433 | ) |  | $ | 2,313,929 |
Amortization expense related to intangible assets is classified as follows on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss):
| For Years Ended December 31,
Classification | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | $ | 159,478 |  |  | $ | 156,150 |  |  | $ | 145,192 |
Site rental costs of operations | 3,709 |  |  | 3,764 |  |  | 4,051 |
Total amortization expense | $ | 163,187 |  |  | $ | 159,914 |  |  | $ | 149,243 |
The estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets (inclusive of those recorded to "site rental costs of operations") for the years ended December 31, 2012 to 2016 is as follows:
| Years Ending December 31,
| 2012 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2016
Estimated annual amortization | $ | 159,509 |  |  | $ | 151,288 |  |  | $ | 145,761 |  |  | $ | 140,146 |  |  | $ | 140,139 |
See note 2 for a further discussion of deferred credits related to above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers recorded in connection with acquisitions. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded $3.8 million, $4.4 million and $4.5 million, respectively, as a decrease to "site rental costs of operations." The following is a summary of the Company's above-market leases.
| As of December 31, 2011 |  | As of December 31, 2010
| Gross Carrying Value |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net Book Value |  | Gross Carrying Value |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net Book Value
Above-market leases | $ | 67,132 |  |  | $ | (17,816 | ) |  | $ | 49,316 |  |  | $ | 70,331 |  |  | $ | (17,669 | ) |  | $ | 52,662 |
The estimated annual amortization expense related to above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers for the years ended December 31, 2012 to 2016 is as follows:
| Years Ending December 31,
| 2012 |  | 2013 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2016
Estimated annual amortization | $ | 3,504 |  |  | $ | 3,434 |  |  | $ | 3,410 |  |  | $ | 3,386 |  |  | $ | 3,469 |

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