Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Net revenues:
Site rental		$ 1,184	$ 893	$ 3,507	$ 2,619
Network services and other revenue		191	170	497	499
Revenues		1,375	1,063	4,004	3,118
Operating expenses:
Site rental	[1]	355	281	1,057	815
Network services and other costs	[1]	119	107	304	310
Selling, general and administrative		145	100	418	300
Asset write-down charges		8	5	18	10
Acquisition and integration costs		4	13	18	27
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		385	296	1,138	880
Total operating expenses		1,016	802	2,953	2,342
Operating income (loss)		359	261	1,051	776
Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract]
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(160)	(154)	(478)	(430)
Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations		(32)	0	(106)	(4)
Interest income		1	11	4	13
Other income (expense)		1	0	0	3
Income (loss) before income taxes		169	118	471	358
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(5)	(3)	(13)	(12)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		164	115	458	346
Dividends on preferred stock		(28)	(30)	(85)	(30)
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders		136	85	373	316
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments		0	0	(1)	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	[2]	0	0	(1)	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders		$ 164	$ 115	$ 457	$ 347
Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, per common share:
Basic		$ 0.33	$ 0.22	$ 0.90	$ 0.85
Diluted		$ 0.33	$ 0.21	$ 0.90	$ 0.84
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in millions):
Basic		415	395	413	374
Diluted		416	397	414	375
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared		$ 1.05	$ 0.95	$ 3.15	$ 2.85

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

[2] See the condensed statement of operations and other comprehensive income (loss) for the components of "other comprehensive income (loss)."