v2.4.0.8
Income Taxes (Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Tax adjustment related to the REIT conversion $ (67,395,000) [1]  
Property and equipment 135,824,000 1,246,899,000
Deferred site rental receivable 28,074,000 340,113,000
Intangible assets 116,548,000 894,800,000
Total deferred income tax liabilities 280,446,000 2,481,812,000
Net operating loss carryforwards 134,123,000 950,195,000
Deferred ground lease payable 7,122,000 121,752,000
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward 0 3,566,000
Accrued liabilities 148,580,000 190,121,000
Receivable allowance 1,228,000 4,140,000
Prepaid lease 0 1,358,430,000
Derivative instruments 0 51,380,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Capital Loss Carryforwards 0 29,402,000
Other 5,866,000 5,270,000
Valuation allowance, asset (27,264,000) (70,940,000)
Total deferred income tax assets, net 269,655,000 2,643,316,000
Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) (10,791,000) 161,504,000
REIT tax adjustment to reclassify a deferred tax charge from AOCI 39,800,000  
U.S. Federal [Member]
    
Total Amount of Valuation Reversals 95,100,000  
State [Member]
    
Total Amount of Valuation Reversals 20,100,000  
CCAL [Member]
    
Total Amount of Valuation Reversals 51,100,000  
Combined Impact of T-Mobile, WCP, and NextG [Member]
    
Total deferred income tax liabilities (19,700,000)  
Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) (100,500,000)  
Valuation Allowance, Operating Loss Carryforwards [Member]
    
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount $ 12,000,000  
[1] Inclusive of a $39.8 million adjustment to reclassify a deferred tax charge from AOCI to the provision for income taxes.