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Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Lines of Credit |  | $ 3,440,000 |  | $ 1,560,000 |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | 12,592,958 |  |  | $ 12,149,959 |
Less: current maturities and short-term debt and other current obligations |  | 101,362 |  |  | 106,219 |
Non-current portion of long-term debt and other long-term obligations | [1] | 12,491,596 |  |  | 12,043,740 |
September 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 700,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 2.30% |  |  |  |
Variable Rate Revolver 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 2,500,000 |  |  |  |
Variable Rate 2016 Term Loan A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | 2,000,000 |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.40% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 600,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 3.40% |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 900,000 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 4.50% |  |  |  |
Capital Lease Obligations and Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Contractual maturity date | [2] | Various |  |  |  |
Original Debt Issuance Date | [2] | Various |  |  |  |
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated | [2] | Various |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 225,471 |  |  | 209,765 |
Fixed Rate Securitized Debt 2010 Tower Revenue Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument Additional Interest Rate Margin |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |
May 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 1,000,000 |  |  |  |
2012 Credit Facility [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver 2016 [Member] | CCOC [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Unused Borrowing Capacity, Amount |  | 2,100,000 |  |  |  |
Bank Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 2,376,109 |  |  | 3,972,448 |
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver 2016 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2016 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[3],[4],[5] | Jan. 21, 2021 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 1.80% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 410,000 | [6] |  | 0 |
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate 2016 Term Loan A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2016 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Jan. 21, 2021 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 1.90% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 1,966,109 | [6] |  | 0 |
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate Revolver 2012 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2012 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Jan. 31, 2019 |  |  |  |
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated | [2] | N/A |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 0 | [6] |  | 1,125,000 |
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate 2012 Term Loans Tranche A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2012 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Jan. 31, 2019 |  |  |  |
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated | [2] | N/A |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 0 | [6] |  | 627,846 |
Bank Debt [Member] | Variable Rate 2012 Term Loans Tranche B [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2012 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Jan. 31, 2021 |  |  |  |
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated | [2] | N/A |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 0 | [6] |  | 2,219,602 |
Securitized Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 3,349,145 |  |  | 4,007,123 |
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes First Tranche [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jul. 01, 2009 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Aug. 01, 2019 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 6.30% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 56,122 |  |  | 70,219 |
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.222% due 2042 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | May 01, 2015 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[7] | May 01, 2042 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 3.20% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 296,414 |  |  | 295,937 |
Securitized Debt [Member] | 2015 Tower Revenue Notes 3.663% due 2045 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | May 01, 2015 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[7] | May 01, 2045 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 3.70% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 691,025 |  |  | 690,247 |
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt January 2010 Tower Revenue Notes Third Tranche [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2010 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[7] | Jan. 01, 2040 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 6.10% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 1,243,769 |  |  | 1,242,368 |
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt January 2010 Tower Revenue Notes Second Tranche [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jan. 01, 2010 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[5] | Jan. 01, 2037 |  |  |  |
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated | [2] | N/A |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |  | $ 0 | [5] |  | 349,171 | [1]
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes Third Tranche [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Aug. 01, 2010 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[7] | Aug. 01, 2040 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 4.90% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 993,097 |  |  | 991,749 |
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Securitized Debt August 2010 Tower Revenue Notes Second Tranche [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Aug. 01, 2010 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[5] | Aug. 01, 2037 |  |  |  |
Percentage of debt instrument interest rate stated | [2] | N/A |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |  | $ 0 | [5] |  | 298,774 | [1]
Securitized Debt [Member] | Fixed Rate Debt 2009 Securitized Notes Second Tranche [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Jul. 01, 2009 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Aug. 01, 2029 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 9.00% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 68,718 |  |  | 68,658 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 6,642,233 |  |  | 3,960,623 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | September 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Sep. 01, 2016 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Sep. 01, 2021 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 2.25% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |  | $ 693,630 | [1],[3] |  | 0 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Five and One Fourth Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Oct. 01, 2012 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Jan. 15, 2023 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 5.25% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 1,636,571 |  |  | 1,634,989 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2012 secured notes tranche A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2],[3] | Dec. 15, 2017 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 2.40% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 0 |  |  | 497,160 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2012 secured notes tranche B [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Dec. 01, 2012 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Apr. 15, 2023 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 3.90% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 990,933 |  |  | 989,895 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | 4.875% Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Apr. 01, 2014 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Apr. 01, 2022 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 4.88% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | $ 839,884 |  |  | 838,579 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.40% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Feb. 01, 2016 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Feb. 15, 2021 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 3.40% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |  | $ 849,706 | [1],[4],[5] |  | 0 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 3.7% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | May 01, 2016 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Jun. 15, 2026 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 3.70% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |  | $ 741,705 | [1],[5] |  | 0 |
High Yield Bonds [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Notes 4.450% [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Original issue date |  | Feb. 01, 2016 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date | [2] | Feb. 15, 2026 |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [2] | 4.50% |  |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations |  | $ 889,804 | [1],[4] |  | $ 0 |
[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] | 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.
[3] | $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.25% senior unsecured notes ("September 2016 Senior Notes"). The Company used net proceeds from the September 2016 Senior Notes offering (1) to repay in full the 2.381% Secured Notes issued by certain of its subsidiaries and (2) to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the 2016 Revolver.
[4] | In February 2016, the Company issued $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes ("2016 Senior Notes"), which consist of (1) $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.40% senior notes with a final maturity date of February 2021 and (2) $900.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.45% senior notes with a final maturity date of February 2026. The Company used net proceeds from the 2016 Senior Notes offering, together with cash on hand, to (1) repay in full all outstanding borrowings under the previously outstanding 364-Day Facility and (2) repay $500.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the 2016 Revolver.
[5] | In May 2016, the Company issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes ("May 2016 Senior Notes"), which consist of (1) $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.40% senior notes that were issued pursuant to the same indenture as the 3.40% senior notes of the 2016 Senior Notes with a final maturity date of February 2021 and (2) $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.70% senior notes with a final maturity date of June 2026. The Company used net proceeds from the May 2016 Senior Notes offering to repay in full the Tower Revenue Notes, Series 2010-2 and Series 2010-5, each issued by certain of its subsidiaries, and to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings under the 2016 Revolver.
[6] | In January 2016, the Company completed a Senior Unsecured Credit Facility ("2016 Credit Facility"), comprised of (1) a $2.5 billion Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility ("2016 Revolver") maturing in January 2021, (2) a $2.0 billion Senior Unsecured Term Loan A Facility ("2016 Term Loan A") maturing in January 2021 and (3) a previously outstanding $1.0 billion Senior Unsecured 364-Day Revolving Credit Facility ("364-Day Facility") maturing in January 2017. The 2016 Credit Facility bears interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.125% to 2.000%, based on the Company's senior unsecured debt rating. The Company used the net proceeds from the 2016 Credit Facility (1) to repay the previously outstanding 2012 Credit Facility and (2) for general corporate purposes. In February 2016, the Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the 2016 Senior Notes offering to repay in full all outstanding borrowings under the previously outstanding 364-Day Facility. As of September 30, 2016, the undrawn availability under the 2016 Revolver was $2.1 billion.
[7] | 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.

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