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Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Textuals) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs |  | $ 129,916 | $ 129,877 | $ 385,656 | $ 398,782 |  |
Long-term Debt, Gross |  | 12,687,610 |  | 12,687,610 |  |  |
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | [1] | 12,592,958 |  | $ 12,592,958 |  |  | $ 12,149,959
Senior Unsecured 364-Day Revolving Credit Facility [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,000,000
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 | $ 3,744 | $ 0 | $ 18,725 | [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] | 3,349,145 |  | 3,349,145 |  |  | 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] | $ 296,414 |  | $ 296,414 |  |  | 295,937
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [3] | 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] | $ 691,025 |  | $ 691,025 |  |  | $ 690,247
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | [3] | 3.70% |  | 3.70% |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Credit Facility [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 1.125% |  | 1.125% |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Senior Unsecured 2016 Credit Facility [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  | 2.00% |  | 2.00% |  |  |
[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] | 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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