Operating Segments Operating Segments Table (Details) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Tower Count		40,000
Fiber Miles		80,000
Amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments		$ 4	$ 5
Site Rental		1,576	1,369
Services and other		166	116
Segment Revenues		1,742	1,485
Segment site rental cost of operations	[1]	396	381
Services and other	[1]	113	81
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		181	164
Stock-based compensation expense		38	33
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		420	408
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		164	170
Capital expenditures		281	302
Total Assets		39,051		$ 39,040
Segments [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		1,576	1,369
Services and other		166	116
Segment Revenues		1,742	1,485
Segment site rental cost of operations		387	373
Services and other		111	79
Segment cost of operations	[2],[3]	498	452
Segment site rental gross margin		1,189	996
Segment services gross margin		55	37
Segment General and Administrative Expenses [Line Items]	[3]	75	70
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		74	66
Segment Operating Profit		1,169	963
Stock-based compensation expense		39	33
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		420	408
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		164	170
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	[4]	45	158
Income (loss) before income taxes		427	128
Capital expenditures		281	302
Total Assets		39,051	38,752
Segment cost of operations share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		7	5
Towers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		1,075	895
Services and other		163	111
Segment Revenues		1,238	1,006
Segment site rental cost of operations		225	212
Services and other		109	76
Segment cost of operations	[2],[3]	334	288
Segment site rental gross margin		850	683
Segment services gross margin		54	35
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses	[3]	28	25
Segment Operating Profit		876	693
Capital expenditures		47	51
Total Assets		22,330	22,080
Fiber [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Site Rental		501	474
Services and other		3	5
Segment Revenues		504	479
Segment site rental cost of operations		162	161
Services and other		2	3
Segment cost of operations	[2],[3]	164	164
Segment site rental gross margin		339	313
Segment services gross margin		1	2
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses	[3]	47	45
Segment Operating Profit		293	270
Capital expenditures		222	237
Total Assets		15,839	15,771
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment selling, general and administrative expenses		74	66
Stock-based compensation expense		39	33
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net		420	408
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		164	170
Other expenses to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	[4]	45	158
Capital expenditures		12	14
Total Assets		882	901
Segment G&A share-based compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 32	$ 28

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

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

[3] Segment cost of operations excludes (1) stock-based compensation of $7 million and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and (2) prepaid lease purchase price adjustments of $4 million and $5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expenses exclude stock-based compensation expense of $32 million and $28 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

[4] See condensed consolidated statement of operations for further information.