<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001051470-21-000106.txt : 20210315
<SEC-HEADER>0001051470-21-000106.hdr.sgml : 20210315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210315180448
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001051470-21-000106
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210315
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Nichol Laura B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001847087

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16441
		FILM NUMBER:		21742826

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 AUGUSTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051470
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				760470458
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 AUGUSTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135703000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 AUGUSTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form3_161584587258487.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001847087</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nichol Laura B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1220 AUGUSTA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP - Business Support</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14635</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2379</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(K) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Time RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>782.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2510.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4458.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Time RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1397.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2597.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5039.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Time RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4244.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4299.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance RSUs</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6594.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares previously acquired in transactions exempt under Rule 16b-3(c).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">100% of these Time RSUs may vest on February 19, 2022.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each RSU is issued pursuant to the Company's 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan and represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock, and vesting (i.e., forfeiture restriction termination) generally is subject to (i) the reporting person remaining an employee or director of the Company or its affiliates and (ii) the other criteria described in the footnotes herein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">0% to 150% of these Relative TSR Performance RSUs may vest on February 19, 2022 based on the Company's annualized total stockholder return (&quot;TSR&quot;) performance ranking (&quot;TSR Rank&quot;) relative to the constituent companies of the Standard &amp; Poor's 500 Index for the three-year period ending December 31, 2021. The percentage of Relative TSR Performance RSUs that may vest will be (a) 0% if the TSR Rank is below the 30th percentile; (b) 50% if the TSR Rank is at the 30th percentile; (c) 100% if the TSR Rank is at the 55th percentile; and (d) 150% if the TSR Rank is at the 90th percentile or greater. If the TSR Rank is between the 30th and 55th percentiles or between the 55th and 90th percentiles, the percentage of Relative TSR Performance RSUs that may vest is determined using linear interpolation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">0% to 150% of these Absolute TSR Performance RSUs may vest on February 19, 2022 based on the Company's annualized  TSR for the three-year period ending December 31, 2021. The percentage of Absolute TSR Performance RSUs that may vest will be (a) 0% if TSR is below 6.5%; (b) 50% if TSR is 6.5%; (c) 100% if TSR is 11.5%; and (d) 150% if TSR is 16.5% or greater. If TSR is between 6.5% and 11.5% or between 11.5% and 16.5%, the percentage of Absolute TSR Performance RSUs that may vest is determined using linear interpolation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Approximately 50% of these Time RSUs may vest on February 19 of each of 2022 and 2023.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">0% to 150% of these Relative TSR Performance RSUs may vest on February 19, 2023 based on the Company's TSR Rank relative to the constituent companies of the Standard &amp; Poor's 500 Index for the three-year period ending December 31, 2022. The percentage of Relative TSR Performance RSUs that may vest will be (a) 0% if the TSR Rank is below the 30th percentile; (b) 50% if the TSR Rank is at the 30th percentile; (c) 100% if the TSR Rank is at the 55th percentile; and (d) 150% if the TSR Rank is at the 90th percentile or greater. If the TSR Rank is between the 30th and 55th percentiles or between the 55th and 90th percentiles, the percentage of Relative TSR Performance RSUs that may vest is determined using linear interpolation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">0% to 150% of these Absolute TSR Performance RSUs may vest on February 19, 2023 based on the Company's annualized TSR for the three-year period ending December 31, 2022. The percentage of Absolute TSR Performance RSUs that may vest will be (a) 0% if TSR is below 6.5%; (b) 50% if TSR is 6.5%; (c) 100% if TSR is 11.5%; and (d) 150% if TSR is 16.5% or greater. If TSR is between 6.5% and 11.5% or between 11.5% and 16.5%, the percentage of Absolute TSR Performance RSUs that may vest is determined using linear interpolation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">33 1/3% of the Time RSUs may vest on February 19 of each of 2022, 2023 and 2024.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">0% to 150% of these Relative TSR Performance RSUs may vest on February 19, 2024 based on the Company's TSR Rank relative to the constituent companies of the Standard &amp; Poor's 500 Index for the three-year period ending December 31, 2023. The percentage of Relative TSR Performance RSUs that may vest will be (a) 0% if the TSR Rank is below the 30th percentile; (b) 50% if the TSR Rank is at the 30th percentile; (c) 100% if the TSR Rank is at the 55th percentile; and (d) 150% if the TSR Rank is at the 90th percentile or greater. If the TSR Rank is between the 30th and 55th percentiles or between the 55th and 90th percentiles, the percentage of Relative TSR Performance RSUs that may vest is determined using linear interpolation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">0% to 150% of these Absolute TSR Performance RSUs may vest on February 19, 2024 based on the Company's annualized TSR for the three-year period ending December 31, 2023. The percentage of Absolute TSR Performance RSUs that may vest will be (a) 0% if TSR is below 6.5%; (b) 50% if TSR is 6.5%; (c) 100% if TSR is 11.5%; and (d) 150% if TSR is 16.5% or greater. If TSR is between 6.5% and 11.5% or between 11.5% and 16.5%, the percentage of Absolute TSR Performance RSUs that may vest is determined using linear interpolation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Laura B. Nichol</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
