-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HhMvW6K8kwE/aKoU4IohYukky2RvfDEm4IopaqtUodLVMpPCYe7HKr1IVa+BrlBO
 5uhCfnEnFgXLP78xIw/ISw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000929638-09-000369.txt : 20090223
<SEC-HEADER>0000929638-09-000369.hdr.sgml : 20090223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090223155139
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000929638-09-000369
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090223

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051470
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899]
		IRS NUMBER:				760470458
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 AUGUSTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135703000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1220 AUGUSTA DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77057

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Abrams David C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001292250

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16441
		FILM NUMBER:		09628063

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-646-6100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		222 BERKELEY STREET, 22ND FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>abramsfrm4_cc02232009ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 - CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292250</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Abrams David C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET, 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13071</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11609999</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were issued pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, as a component of non-employee
 director compensation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares reported herein are held by private investment funds of which Mr. Abrams, directly or indirectly, is the managing
 member of the general partner and/or is the managing member of the investment manager. In such capacities, Mr. Abrams may be
 deemed to have voting and investment power with respect to all shares being reported herein. Mr. Abrams disclaims beneficial
 ownership of these shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares in this
 report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of the shares reported herein for purposes of Section 16 or
 for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David C. Abrams</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----