CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 160,948	$ 210,358
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense	21,042	13,045
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	185,804	149,655
Loss on early retirement of securitized debt	35,288
Other non-cash items reflected in statements of operations	(7,496)	(28,342)
Increase in net deferred rent asset	(26,806)	(28,789)
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	22,583	(13,490)
(Increase) decrease in assets	(7,374)	55,126
Increase in liabilities	10,047	44,454
Cash provided by operating activities	394,036	402,017
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Payments for purchase of property and equipment and construction activities	(123,905)	(121,032)
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(245,094)	(159,403)
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments and other non-current assets	7,150	1,095
Payments for short-term investments	(14,650)	(10,085)
Deposits, restricted cash, investments and other	(129)	(1,871)
Cash used for investing activities	(376,628)	(291,296)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from short-term borrowings, net	0	17,127
Borrowings under credit facilities	249,000	1,325,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	983,354	698,670
Proceeds from the issuance of Securities in securitization transaction, net	1,778,496
Proceeds from other long-term borrowings		16,676
Repayments of notes payable, credit facilities and capital leases	(2,937,744)	(2,018,847)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders, net	7,658	3,327
Purchases of common stock	(12,480)	(20,665)
Proceeds from stock options	6,140	15,615
Payment for early retirement of securitized debt	(29,234)
Deferred financing costs and other financing activities	(10,561)	(9,463)
Cash provided by financing activities	34,629	27,440
Net effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	21,051	2,906
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	73,088	141,067
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD	368,618	330,191
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	441,706	471,258
CASH PAID (RECEIVED) FOR INCOME TAXES (NET OF REFUNDS OF $704 AND PAYMENTS OF $12,972, RESPECTIVELY)	13,543	(897)
CASH PAID FOR INTEREST	95,251	77,936
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
DECREASE IN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES FOR PURCHASES OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES	1,691	7,813
PURCHASES OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT UNDER CAPITAL LEASES	$ 4,495	$ 1,066