Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Site leasing	$ 1,623,173	$ 1,538,070	$ 1,480,634
Site development	104,501	95,055	157,840
Total revenues	1,727,674	1,633,125	1,638,474
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing	359,527	342,215	324,655
Cost of site development	86,785	78,682	119,744
Selling, general, and administrative	130,697	143,349	114,951
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses	12,367	13,140	11,864
Asset impairment and decommission costs	36,697	30,242	94,783
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization	643,100	638,189	660,021
Total operating expenses	1,269,173	1,245,817	1,326,018
Operating income	458,501	387,308	312,456
Other income (expense):
Interest income	11,337	10,928	3,894
Interest expense	(323,749)	(329,171)	(322,366)
Non-cash interest expense	(2,879)	(2,203)	(1,505)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(21,940)	(21,136)	(19,154)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net	(1,961)	(52,701)	(783)
Other income (expense), net	(2,418)	94,278	(139,137)
Total other expense, net	(341,610)	(300,005)	(479,051)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	116,891	87,303	(166,595)
Provision for income taxes	(13,237)	(11,065)	(9,061)
Net income (loss)	$ 103,654	$ 76,238	$ (175,656)
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic	$ 0.86	$ 0.61	$ (1.37)
Diluted	$ 0.86	$ 0.61	$ (1.37)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	119,860	124,448	127,794
Diluted	121,022	125,144	127,794