Maximum current term of tenant contracts, excluding the exercise of tenant renewal options.

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- Definition

Maximum current lease expiration term, in years, of operating leases for tower under which the company owns land.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of towers located on space owned by third parties that the company manages.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Rental expense incurred for leased assets.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Operating Leases, Leased Land Under Tower, Expiration Term

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of site rental gross margin that is derived from towers where the lease for the land has a final expiration date.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The percentage of towers, office space and equipment that is on land that has non-cancelable operating leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Weighted-average remaining term of tenant leases, exclusive of renewals at the tenant's option

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The total of future contractually required payments on leases defined as operating.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 122

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 40

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within one year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fifth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fourth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the third year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the second year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due after the fifth year from the balance sheet date on leases defined as operating.

+ References

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- Definition

Future minimum rental payments in aggregate as of the balance sheet date under operating leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 23

-Subparagraph b(ii)

-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 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

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- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within one year of the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

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- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the fifth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

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- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the fourth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the third year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the second year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

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- Definition

Future minimum lease payments receivable under operating leases for periods greater than five years following the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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- Definition

The maximum useful life of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Leases (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011 towers	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining term of tenant leases	9 years
Maximum Current Term	20 years
Tenant Leases 2012	$ 1,661,458,000
Tenant Leases 2013	1,666,996,000
Tenant Leases 2014	1,631,813,000
Tenant Leases 2015	1,575,337,000
Tenant Leases 2016	1,468,813,000
Tenant Leases thereafter	9,185,611,000
Total tenant leases	17,190,028,000
Percentage of wireless infrastructure, office space and equipment that is on land that has non-cancelable operating leases	71.00%
Number of towers located on space that the company manages	600
Operating Leases, Owned Land Under Tower, Expiration Term	20 years
Operating Leases, Leased Land Under Tower, Expiration Term	10 years
Operating leases 2012	301,264,000
Operating leases 2013	305,278,000
Operating leases 2014	307,267,000
Operating leases 2015	308,801,000
Operating leases 2016	311,242,000
Operating leases thereafter	3,907,901,000
Total operating leases	5,441,753,000
Rental expense from operating leases	338,300,000	330,100,000	316,200,000
Contingent rental payments	$ 56,400,000	$ 55,100,000	$ 53,100,000
Greater than 10 Years, Inclusive of Renewals at the Company's Option [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Percentage of site rental gross margin that is derived from wireless infrastructure where the lease for the land has a final expiration date	89.00%
Greater than 20 Years, Inclusive of Renewals at the Company's Option [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Percentage of site rental gross margin that is derived from wireless infrastructure where the lease for the land has a final expiration date	73.00%
Wireless Infrastructure [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Estimated useful life, maximum, in years	20