Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 764,606	$ 717,623		$ 2,233,077		$ 2,143,198
Network services and other		153,501	175,260		484,938		469,690
Net revenues		918,107	892,883		2,718,015		2,612,888
Operating expenses:
Site rental	[1]	247,000	230,599		716,244		676,275
Network services and other	[1]	86,859	101,814		263,177		275,514
General and administrative		76,699	65,212		223,880		187,171
Asset write-down charges		7,477	4,932		19,652		10,673
Acquisition and integration costs		7,608	4,068		12,001		28,852
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		261,662	247,206		766,621		738,965
Total operating expenses		687,305	653,831		2,001,575		1,917,450
Operating income (loss)		230,802	239,052		716,440		695,438
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(129,877)	(141,287)		(398,782)		(432,221)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		0	0		(4,157)	[2]	(44,629)
Interest income		789	107		1,170		329
Other income (expense)		(1,214)	(694)		58,510		(9,350)
Income (loss) before income taxes		100,500	97,178		373,181		209,567
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		3,801	1,977		9,380		8,118
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent		104,301	99,155		382,561		217,685
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	8,882	[3],[4]	19,690	[3],[4],[5]	28,502	[3],[4]
Net gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax		(522)	0		981,018		0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(522)	8,882		1,000,708		28,502
Net income (loss)		103,779	108,037		1,383,269		246,187
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0	1,100		3,343		3,744
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		103,779	106,937		1,379,926		242,443
Dividends on preferred stock		(10,997)	(10,997)		(32,991)		(32,991)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		92,782	95,940		1,346,935		209,452
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Amounts reclassified into interest expense and amortization deferred financing costs, net of taxes		3,744	15,551		18,725		47,895
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(632)	(24,177)		(13,493)		(5,708)
Amounts reclassified into discontinued operations for foreign currency translation adjustments		0	0		(25,678)		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		3,112	(8,626)		(20,446)		42,187
Comprehensive income (loss)		106,891	99,411		1,362,823		288,374
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest		0	(327)		0		3,313
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 106,891	$ 99,738		$ 1,362,823		$ 285,061
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.28	$ 0.29		$ 4.05		$ 0.63
Diluted		$ 0.28	$ 0.29		$ 4.04		$ 0.63
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		333,049	332,413		332,951		332,264
Diluted		333,711	333,241		333,735		333,020
Continuing Operations [Member]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ 93,304	$ 88,158		$ 349,570		$ 184,694
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.28	$ 0.27		$ 1.05		$ 0.56
Diluted		$ 0.28	$ 0.26		$ 1.05		$ 0.55
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		$ (522)	$ 7,782		$ 997,365		$ 24,758
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.00	$ 0.02		$ 3.00		$ 0.07
Diluted		$ 0.00	$ 0.03		$ 2.99		$ 0.08

[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately.

[2] Inclusive of $4.2 million related to the net write off of deferred financing costs, premiums and discounts.

[3] Exclusive of the gain (loss) from disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax, as presented on the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

[4] No interest expense has been allocated to discontinued operations.

[5] CCAL results are through May 28, 2015, which was the closing date of the Company's sale of CCAL.