v2.4.0.6
Operating Segments and Concentrations of Credit Risk (Financial Results for the Company's Operating Segments) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Sep. 30, 2010
Jun. 30, 2010
Mar. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 $ 1,853,550 $ 1,700,761 $ 1,543,192
Network services and other                 179,179 177,897 142,215
Net revenues 519,471 513,883 500,336 499,039 496,314 481,890 456,127 444,327 2,032,729 1,878,658 1,685,407
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 481,398 [1] 467,136 [1] 456,560 [1]
Network services and other                 106,987 [1] 114,241 [1] 92,808 [1]
General and administrative                 173,493 165,356 153,072
Asset write-down charges                 22,285 13,687 19,237
Acquisition and integration costs                 3,310 2,102 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 552,951 540,771 529,739
Total operating expenses                 1,340,424 1,303,293 1,251,416
Operating income (loss) 176,846 181,889 167,142 166,428 156,152 155,956 132,884 130,373 692,305 575,365 433,991
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 (507,587) (490,269) (445,882)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations         0 (71,933) 0 (66,434) 0 (138,367) [2] (91,079) [3]
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps         (5,860) 104,421 114,598 73,276 0 (286,435) (92,966)
Interest income                 666 2,204 2,967
Other income (expense)                 (5,577) (603) 2,446
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 (8,347) 26,846 76,400
Net income (loss)                 171,460 (311,259) (114,123)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 383 (319) 209
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders 48,911 51,278 30,871 40,017 40,873 (135,009) (97,529) (119,275) 171,077 (310,940) (114,332)
Capital expenditures                 347,942 228,058 173,535
Total assets (at year end) 10,545,096       10,469,529       10,545,096 10,469,529  
Goodwill 2,035,390       2,029,296       2,035,390 2,029,296  
CCUSA [Member]
                      
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 1,744,993 1,608,141 1,466,552
Network services and other                 161,522 168,101 134,545
Net revenues                 1,906,515 1,776,242 1,601,097
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 446,868 [1] 437,812 [1] 433,481 [1]
Network services and other                 96,057 [1] 107,668 [1] 88,393 [1]
General and administrative                 151,737 148,374 141,149
Asset write-down charges                 21,986 13,243 18,611
Acquisition and integration costs                 3,310 2,102 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 522,681 513,433 502,017
Total operating expenses                 1,242,639 1,222,632 1,183,651
Operating income (loss)                 663,876 553,610 417,446
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 (507,264) (488,863) (443,960)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations                 0 (138,367) (91,079)
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps                 0 (286,435) (92,966)
Interest income                 187 1,888 2,810
Other income (expense)                 17,048 19,151 14,619
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 (6,126) 28,808 77,718
Net income (loss)                 167,721 (310,208) (115,412)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 (348) 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders                 168,069 (310,208) (115,412)
Capital expenditures                 333,862 216,556 166,883
Total assets (at year end) 10,497,387       10,439,827       10,497,387 10,439,827  
Goodwill 2,034,683       2,028,590       2,034,683 2,028,590  
CCAL [Member]
                      
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 108,557 92,620 76,640
Network services and other                 17,657 9,796 7,670
Net revenues                 126,214 102,416 84,310
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 34,530 [1] 29,324 [1] 23,079 [1]
Network services and other                 10,930 [1] 6,573 [1] 4,415 [1]
General and administrative                 21,756 16,982 11,923
Asset write-down charges                 299 444 626
Acquisition and integration costs                 0 0 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 30,270 27,338 27,722
Total operating expenses                 97,785 80,661 67,765
Operating income (loss)                 28,429 21,755 16,545
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 (22,974) (21,381) (15,403)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations                 0 0 0
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps                 0 0 0
Interest income                 479 316 157
Other income (expense)                 26 221 1,308
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 (2,221) (1,962) (1,318)
Net income (loss)                 3,739 (1,051) 1,289
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 731 (319) 209
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders                 3,008 (732) 1,080
Capital expenditures                 14,080 11,502 6,652
Total assets (at year end) 341,852       339,093       341,852 339,093  
Goodwill 707       706       707 706  
Elimination [Member]
                      
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Network services and other                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Net revenues                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 0 [1],[4] 0 [1],[4] 0 [1],[4]
Network services and other                 0 [1],[4] 0 [1],[4] 0 [1],[4]
General and administrative                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Asset write-down charges                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Acquisition and integration costs                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Total operating expenses                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Operating income (loss)                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 22,651 [4] 19,975 [4] 13,481 [4]
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Interest income                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Other income (expense)                 (22,651) (19,975) (13,481)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Net income (loss)                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Capital expenditures                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0
Total assets (at year end) (294,143) [4]       (309,391)       (294,143) [4] (309,391)  
Goodwill $ 0       $ 0       $ 0 $ 0  
[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately.
[2] Inclusive of $23.4 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts.
[3] Inclusive of $4.2 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and other non-cash adjustments.
[4] Elimination of inter-company borrowings and related interest expense.