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Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Textuals) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs |  | $ 129,362 |  | $ 134,466 |  | $ 255,740 |  | $ 268,905 |  |
Long-term Debt, Gross |  | 12,520,639 |  |  |  | 12,520,639 |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | 12,426,204 |  |  |  | 12,426,204 |  |  |  | $ 12,149,959
Senior Unsecured 364-Day Revolving Credit Facility [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured 2016 Credit Facility [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage Rate Range, Minimum |  | 1.10% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum |  | 2.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt 2010 Tower Revenue Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additional interest accruing following anticipated repayment dates |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |
2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 1,500,000 |  |  |  | $ 1,500,000 |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.40% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 600,000 |  |  |  | $ 600,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 3.40% |  |  |  | 3.40% |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 900,000 |  |  |  | $ 900,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 4.50% |  |  |  | 4.50% |  |  |  |
May 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  |
May 2016 Senior Notes 3.4% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 300,000 |  |  |  | $ 300,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 3.40% |  |  |  | 3.40% |  |  |  |
May 2016 Senior Notes 3.7% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 800,000 |  |  |  | $ 800,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 3.70% |  |  |  | 3.70% |  |  |  |
Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of interest rate swaps |  | $ 0 |  | $ 7,490 | [2] | $ 0 |  | $ 14,981 | [2] |
Variable Rate Revolver 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayments of Debt |  | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Securitized Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | 3,352,490 |  |  |  | 3,352,490 |  |  |  | 4,007,123
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.222% due 2042 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 296,254 | [3] |  |  | $ 296,254 | [3] |  |  | 295,937
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [4] | 3.20% |  |  |  | 3.20% |  |  |  |
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 690,764 | [3] |  |  | $ 690,764 | [3] |  |  | $ 690,247
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [4] | 3.70% |  |  |  | 3.70% |  |  |  |
CCOC [Member] | 2012 Credit Facility [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver 2012 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount |  | $ 2,100,000 |  |  |  | $ 2,100,000 |  |  |  |
[1] | Balances reflect debt issuance costs as a direct reduction from the respective carrying amounts of debt, with the exception of debt issuance costs associated with the Company's revolving credit facilities. See note 2.
[2] | Amounts reclassified from "accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)."
[3] | If the respective series of such debt is not paid in full on or prior to an applicable date then Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the indenture) of the issuers of such notes will be used to repay principal of the applicable series, and additional interest (of an additional approximately 5% per annum) will accrue on the respective series. See the 2015 Form 10-K for additional information regarding these provisions.
[4] | See the 2015 Form 10-K, including note 8, for additional information regarding the maturity and principal amortization provisions and interest rates relating to the Company's indebtedness.

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