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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.