Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Deferred Credit Carrying Value Gross	$ 298,100,000			$ 298,100,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	3,294,250,000			3,294,250,000				2,976,207,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	2,368,650,000			2,368,650,000				2,178,182,000
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill amount	697,448,000			697,448,000			682,148,000
Amortization of intangible assets	43,733,000	40,834,000		127,822,000	122,064,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	20,481,000	318,485,000	[1]	20,481,000	318,485,000	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	(925,600,000)			(925,600,000)				(798,025,000)
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, weighted average useful life	20 years			22 years 10 months 24 days
Weighted average amortization period of deferred credits acquired.	11			11
Amortization expense, 2012 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	7,132,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	42,592,000			42,592,000
Amortization expense, 2013 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	28,518,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	164,517,000			164,517,000
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	181,477,000			181,477,000				152,375,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	0			0				30,440,000	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	(60,373,000)			(60,373,000)				(49,175,000)
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, weighted average useful life	0 years			18 years 9 months 18 days
Other intangible assets, net	121,104,000			121,104,000				103,200,000
Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, gross	3,112,773,000			3,112,773,000				2,823,832,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	2,247,546,000			2,247,546,000				2,074,982,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets, amount	20,481,000			20,481,000				288,045,000	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	(865,227,000)			(865,227,000)				(748,850,000)
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, weighted average useful life	20 years			23 years 3 months 18 days
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	42,970,000	39,977,000		125,496,000	119,212,000
Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization of intangible assets	763,000	857,000		2,326,000	2,852,000
Amortization expense, 2014 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	28,479,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	161,186,000			161,186,000
Amortization expense, 2015 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	27,578,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	155,572,000			155,572,000
Amortization expense, 2016 [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Expected amortization of below-market tenant leases by year	26,791,000
Finite-lived intangible assets, future amortization expense	155,544,000			155,544,000
NextG Networks Inc. [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill amount	697,400,000			697,400,000
Wireless Capital Partners, LLC [Member]
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Business acquisition, purchase price allocation, goodwill amount	54,800,000			54,800,000
Goodwill not expected to be deductible for tax purposes	$ 40,900,000			$ 40,900,000

[1] $94.5 million related to the WCP Acquisition.