v2.4.0.6

Intangible Assets and Deferred Credits (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
Intangible Assets | 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 |
Schedule of Amortization Expense | 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 |
Schedule of Above Market Leases | 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 |
Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member] |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense | 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 |
Above Market Leases [Member] |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |
Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense | 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 |

X
- Definition Schedule of above market leases at carrying value, less accumulated depreciation, and net book value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cci_ScheduleOfAboveMarketLeasesTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | cci_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Schedule of amortization expense related to intangible assets on the balance sheet + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cci_ScheduleOfAmortizationExpenseTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | cci_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the estimated aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization for each of the five succeeding fiscal years. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Publisher FASB -Number -Article -Subparagraph (a) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 2 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfExpectedAmortizationExpenseTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of amortizable intangibles assets, in total and by major class, including the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar, either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16265-109275 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905858&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration