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Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 4,916,426 |  | $ 3,119,957 |  | $ 2,035,390
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross | 5,248,356 |  | 3,920,415 |  |
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets | (1,190,491) |  | (978,719) |  |
Other intangible assets, net | 407,522 |  | 289,136 |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, net | 4,057,865 |  | 2,941,696 |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount | 1,336,359 |  | 950,226 |  |
Amortization expense | 214,239 |  | 180,515 |  | 163,187
2012 | 272,944 |  |  |  |
2013 | 267,326 |  |  |  |
2014 | 267,273 |  |  |  |
2015 | 266,902 |  |  |  |
2016 | 266,732 |  |  |  |
Deferred Credits [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
2012 | 21,854 |  |  |  |
2013 | 21,839 |  |  |  |
2014 | 21,796 |  |  |  |
2015 | 21,767 |  |  |  |
2016 | 21,741 |  |  |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life | 20 years |  | 21 years |  |
Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross | 4,761,605 |  | 3,566,207 |  |
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets | (1,111,262) |  | (913,647) |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, net | 3,650,343 |  | 2,652,560 |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount | 1,203,596 |  | 741,526 |  |
Deferred Credits [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life | 20 years |  | 21 years |  |
Below Market Leases For Land Interests [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount | 114,900 |  | 178,300 |  |
Other Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross | 486,751 |  | 354,208 |  |
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets | (79,229) |  | (65,072) |  |
Other intangible assets, net | 407,522 |  | 289,136 |  |
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, amount | 132,763 | [1] | 208,700 | [2] |
Deferred Credits [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life | 21 years |  | 19 years |  |
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Amortization expense | 204,042 |  | 177,163 |  | 159,478
Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Amortization expense | 10,197 |  | 3,352 |  | 3,709
NextG Networks Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period |  |  | 573,617 | [3] |
Wireless Capital Partners, LLC [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period |  |  | 54,824 | [4] |
AT&T [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period | 1,768,535 | [5] |  |  |
T-Mobile [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period |  |  | 428,019 | [5] |
Other Acquired Goodwill [Domain] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period | 25,194 |  | 28,113 |  |
Effect of exchange rates on goodwill [Domain] |  |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill, Acquired During Period | $ 2,740 |  | $ (6) |  |
[1] | (a)$114.9 million is related to below-market leases for land interests under acquired wireless infrastructure for the year ended December 31, 2013 which is inclusive of adjustments made during 2013 related to the T-Mobile purchase price allocation (see note 3). (b)$178.3 million is
[2] | (b)$178.3 million is related to below-market leases for land interests under acquired wireless infrastructure for the year ended December 31, 2012.Amortiza
[3] | urchase price allocation for the NextG Acquisition resulted in the recognition of a substantial amount of goodwill at CCUSA relative to the purchase price based on the following:•the acquired or in-process DAS have low average tenancy, which the Company believes provides an opportunity to co-locate additional tenants on those systems;•the Company believes that the economics associated with DAS are similar to the economics associated with the Company's towers, whereby expected increases in revenues from additional tenants on existing DAS are expected to result in high incremental margins due to relatively fixed operating costs;•the Company believes the demand for tenants to co-locate on DAS will be driven by the continued growth trends in the wireless communication industry as wireless carriers continue to focus on improving network quality and expanding capacity;•the Company believes the acquired DAS are well-positioned to benefit from the anticipated growth in the wireless industry with their previously mentioned locations in the ten largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S.; or•other intangibles not qualified for separate recognition, including the assembled work force.To a lesser extent, a portion of the goodwill recognized is the result of recording the tax impact of the NextG Acquisition. See also note 10.(b)
[4] | Company paid a purchase price for the WCP Acquisition that resulted in goodwill at CCUSA primarily because of the strategic opportunities related to the acquired portfolio.
[5] | purchase price allocation for the T-Mobile Acquisition and the preliminary purchase price allocation for the AT&T Acquisition resulted in the recognition of goodwill at CCUSA primarily because of the anticipated growth opportunities in the respective tower portfolios. Int

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