CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES:
Rental and management	$ 2,803,490	$ 2,386,185	$ 1,936,373
Network development services	72,470	57,347	48,962
Total operating revenues	2,875,960	2,443,532	1,985,335
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Rental and management (including stock-based compensation expense of $793, 1,105 and $0, respectively)	686,681	590,272	447,629
Network development services (including stock-based compensation expense of $968, $1,224 and $0, respectively)	35,798	30,684	26,957
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	644,276	555,517	460,726
Selling, general, administrative and development expense (including stock-based compensation expense of $50,222, $45,108 and $52,555, respectively)	327,301	288,824	229,769
Other operating expenses	62,185	58,103	35,876
Total operating expenses	1,756,241	1,523,400	1,200,957
OPERATING INCOME	1,119,719	920,132	784,378
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income, TV Azteca, net of interest expense of $1,485, $1,474 and $1,487, restpectively	14,258	14,214	14,212
Interest income	7,680	7,378	5,024
Interest expense	(401,665)	(311,854)	(246,018)
Loss on retirement of long-term obligations	(398)	0	(1,886)
Other (expense) income (including unrealized foreign currency (losses) gains of $(34,330), $(131,053) and $4,792, respectively	(38,300)	(122,975)	315
Total other expense	(418,425)	(413,237)	(228,353)
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INCOME ON EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS	701,294	506,895	556,025
Income tax provision	(107,304)	(125,080)	(182,489)
Income on equity method investments	35	25	40
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	594,025	381,840	373,576
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAX PROVISION OF $0, $0 and $19, RESPECTIVELY	0	0	30
NET INCOME	594,025	381,840	373,606
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	43,258	14,622	(670)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION	$ 637,283	$ 396,462	$ 372,936
BASIC:
Income from continuing operations attributable to American Tower Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ 1.00	$ 0.93
Income from discontinued operations attributable to American Tower Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.00
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ 1.00	$ 0.93
DILUTED:
Income from continuing operations attributable to American Tower Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 1.60	$ 0.99	$ 0.92
Income from discontinued operations attributable to American Tower Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.00
Net income attributable to American Tower Corporation (in dollars per share)	$ 1.60	$ 0.99	$ 0.92
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
BASIC (in shares)	394,772	395,711	401,152
DILUTED (in shares)	399,287	400,195	404,072
DISTRIBUTIONS DECLARED, PER SHARE	$ 0.90	$ 0.35	$ 0