v2.4.0.8
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, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 $ 2,503,620 $ 2,124,190 $ 1,853,550
Network services and other                 518,764 308,490 179,179
Net revenues 798,419 748,977 734,928 740,060 674,087 621,337 585,511 551,745 3,022,384 2,432,680 2,032,729
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 725,109 [1] 539,239 [1] 481,398 [1]
Network services and other                 321,687 [1] 189,750 [1] 106,987 [1]
General and administrative                 238,702 212,572 173,493
Asset write-down charges                 14,863 15,548 22,285
Acquisition and integration costs                 26,005 18,298 3,310
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 774,215 622,592 552,951
Total operating expenses                 2,100,581 1,597,999 1,340,424
Operating income (loss) 233,948 222,839 229,961 235,055 208,708 220,768 202,977 202,228 921,803 834,681 692,305
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 (589,630) (601,044) (507,587)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations (640) (1) (577) (35,909) (117,388) 0 (7,518) (7,068) (37,127) [2] (131,974) [3] 0
Interest income                 1,355 4,556 666
Other income (expense)                 (3,872) (5,392) (5,577)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes 110,374 33,959 36,587 17,708 (70,624) 32,300 (68,432) 6,695 (198,628) 100,061 (8,347)
Net income (loss)                 93,901 200,888 171,460
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 3,790 12,304 383
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders (23,546) 45,836 52,359 15,462 (19,505) 42,045 116,013 50,031 90,111 188,584 171,077
Capital expenditures                 567,810 441,383 347,942
Total assets (at year end) 20,594,908       16,088,709       20,594,908 16,088,709  
Goodwill 4,916,426       3,119,957       4,916,426 3,119,957 2,035,390
CCUSA [Member]
                      
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 2,371,380 2,001,049 1,744,993
Network services and other                 494,371 285,287 161,522
Net revenues                 2,865,751 2,286,336 1,906,515
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 686,873 503,661 446,868
Network services and other                 304,144 173,762 96,057
General and administrative                 213,519 184,911 151,737
Asset write-down charges                 13,595 15,226 21,986
Acquisition and integration costs                 25,574 18,216 3,310
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 741,342 591,428 522,681
Total operating expenses                 1,985,047 1,487,204 1,242,639
Operating income (loss)                 880,704 799,132 663,876
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 (589,630) (601,031) (507,264)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations                 (37,127) (131,974) 0
Interest income                 956 4,089 187
Other income (expense)                 12,643 13,954 17,048
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 (191,000) 60,144 (6,126)
Net income (loss)                 76,546 144,314 167,721
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 0 (268) (348)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders                 76,546 144,582 168,069
Capital expenditures                 534,809 419,980 333,862
Total assets (at year end) 20,466,369       15,969,084       20,466,369 15,969,084  
Goodwill 4,902,950       3,116,824       4,902,950 3,116,824  
CCAL [Member]
                      
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 132,240 123,141 108,557
Network services and other                 24,393 23,203 17,657
Net revenues                 156,633 146,344 126,214
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 38,236 35,578 34,530
Network services and other                 17,543 15,988 10,930
General and administrative                 25,183 27,661 21,756
Asset write-down charges                 1,268 322 299
Acquisition and integration costs                 431 82 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 32,873 31,164 30,270
Total operating expenses                 115,534 110,795 97,785
Operating income (loss)                 41,099 35,549 28,429
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs                 (16,545) (19,330) (22,974)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations                 0 0 0
Interest income                 399 467 479
Other income (expense)                 30 (29) 26
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 (7,628) 39,917 (2,221)
Net income (loss)                 17,355 56,574 3,739
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 3,790 12,572 731
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders                 13,565 44,002 3,008
Capital expenditures                 33,001 21,403 14,080
Total assets (at year end) 411,679       440,395       411,679 440,395  
Goodwill 13,476       3,133       13,476 3,133  
Elimination [Member]
                      
Net revenues:                      
Site rental                 0 0 0
Network services and other                 0 0 0
Net revenues                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Costs of Operations:                      
Site rental                 0 0 0
Network services and other                 0 0 0
General and administrative                 0 0 0
Asset write-down charges                 0 0 0
Acquisition and integration costs                 0 0 0
Depreciation, amortization and accretion                 0 0 0
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                 16,545 19,317 22,651
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations                 0 0 0
Interest income                 0 0 0
Other income (expense)                 (16,545) (19,317) (22,651)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes                 0 0 0
Net income (loss)                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders                 0 [4] 0 [4] 0 [4]
Capital expenditures                 0 0 0
Total assets (at year end) (283,140)       (320,770)       (283,140) (320,770)  
Goodwill $ 0       $ 0       $ 0 $ 0  
[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately.
[2] The losses predominantly relate to cash losses, including with respect to make whole payments.
[3] Inclusive of $48.1 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts. In addition, the remainder relates to cash losses including with respect to make whole payments.
[4] Elimination of inter-company borrowings and related interest expense.