Commitments and Contingencies - (Details) (USD $)				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 Apple Inc. [Member]	May 31, 2012 Apple Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Wholesale Agreement With Sprint [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Site Leases [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Site Leases [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Site Leases [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Wholesale agreement, renewal term				1 year
Wholesale agreement, advance notice to terminate agreement				180 days
Total minimum revenue under agreement				$ 300,000,000
Wholesale agreement, term				5 years
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2012				20,000,000
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2013				75,000,000
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2014				80,000,000
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2015				75,000,000
Total minimum revenue under agreement in 2016				50,000,000
Amount of service revenue which can be credited against minimum revenue requirement				162,000,000
Minimum revenues of service provided in change of control transaction				500,000,000
Termination period with Metro PCS				60 days
Percentage of minimum revenue requirements to be paid after change of control in 2013				20.00%
Percentage of minimum revenue requirements to be paid after change of control in 2014 or 2015				10.00%
Total minimum revenue upon change of control with Metro PCS				350,000,000
Purchase commitment period			3 years
Estimated purchase commitment			800,000,000
Estimated increase in purchase obligation in 2013		100,000,000
Estimated increase in purchase obligation in 2014		150,000,000
Estimated increase in purchase obligation in 2015		200,000,000
Lease term						5 years	10 years
Lease agreements, number of renewals					4
Lease agreements, renewal period					5 years
Capital Leases:
Capital Leases, 2013	9,492,000
Capital Leases, 2014	9,492,000
Capital Leases, 2015	8,547,000
Capital Leases, 2016	7,030,000
Capital Leases, 2017	5,268,000
Capital Leases, Thereafter	16,344,000
Capital Leases, Total minimum lease payments	56,173,000
Capital Leases, Less amounts representing interest	(13,277,000)
Capital Leases, Present value of minimum lease payments	42,896,000
Operating Leases:
Operating Leases, 2013	266,301,000
Operating Leases, 2014	265,201,000
Operating Leases, 2015	256,778,000
Operating Leases, 2016	211,464,000
Operating Leases, 2017	175,357,000
Operating Leases, Thereafter	334,897,000
Operating Leases, Total minimum lease payments	$ 1,509,998,000