-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AXDCxE9KXyPv80q54a0SP+P85/exrcrhcL09Q4j/fmAYIKsrOWMx+pWLLwhY6rpA
 maFKw7pO2PcCTIbQi3omwA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001338678-10-000031.txt : 20100317
<SEC-HEADER>0001338678-10-000031.hdr.sgml : 20100317
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100317175413
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001338678-10-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100315
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100317
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100317

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Marshall Steven C.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001417856

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14195
		FILM NUMBER:		10689741

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMERICAN TOWER CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		116 HUNTINGTON AVE., 11TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN TOWER CORP /MA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001053507
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATION SERVICES, NEC [4899]
		IRS NUMBER:				650723837
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		116 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173757500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		116 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN TOWER SYSTEMS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980128
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001053507</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN TOWER CORP /MA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001417856</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Marshall Steven C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>116 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; President, U.S. Tower</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3682</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.49</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2148</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average price of shares sold in multiple same-day transactions at prices ranging from $43.49 to $43.50 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mneesha O. Nahata, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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