<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292420</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Abrams Capital Partners II, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET, 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>s-h w/board representation</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292421</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Abrams Capital Partners I, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET, 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>s-h w/board representation</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292422</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Whitecrest Partners, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET, 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>s-h w/board representation</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Great Hollow International, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 309GT, SOUTH CHURCH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGETOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>E9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>XXXXX-XXXX</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CAYMAN ISLANDS</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>s-h w/board representation</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001320505</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Riva Capital Partners L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY ST 22ND FL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>s-h w/board representation</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292423</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>222 Partners, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET, 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>s-h w/board representation</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>576081</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5892969</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1442379</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>508051</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2076552</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>53613</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F11"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F12"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2006, among the Issuer, the reporting persons and other
 parties, on January 26, 2007 the Issuer purchased an aggregate of 2,809,646 shares of the Issuer's common stock from the
 reporting persons for an aggregate of approximately $95,167,935. This report reflects holdings prior to the consummation of
 such transactions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are owned by Abrams Capital Partners I, LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are owned by Abrams Capital Partners II, LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These shares are owned by Whitecrest Partners, LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares are owned by Great Hollow International, LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">These shares are owned by Riva Capital Partners, LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">These shares are owned by 222 Partners, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Abrams Capital, LLC (&quot;Abrams Capital&quot;) is the general partner of Abrams Capital Partners I, LP, Abrams Capital Partners II,
 LP and Whitecrest Partners, LP.  Pamet Capital Management L.P. (&quot;Pamet L.P.&quot;) is the investment adviser of Abrams Capital
 Partners I, LP, Abrams Capital Partners II, LP and Whitecrest Partners, LP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Great Hollow Partners LLC (&quot;Great Hollow LLC&quot;) is the general partner of Great Hollow Partners International, L.P. (&quot;Great
 Hollow International&quot;), and Pamet L.P. is the investment adviser of Great Hollow International.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Riva Capital Management, LLC (&quot;Riva LLC&quot;) is the general partner of Riva Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;Riva L.P.&quot;), and Abrams
 Capital Management LLC is the investment adviser of Riva L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Pamet Capital, LLC (&quot;Pamet LLC&quot;) is the general partner of Pamet L.P.  David Abrams is the managing member of Abrams Capital,
 Pamet LLC, Great Hollow LLC, Riva LLC and 222 Partners LLC.  Abrams Capital, Pamet L.P., Pamet LLC, Great Hollow LLC, Riva
 LLC and Mr. Abrams may be deemed to have voting and investment power over shares owned by the reporting persons with respect
 to which they serve as investment adviser or general partner or to the extent that they exercise control over an entity
 acting in such capacity.  The shares disclosed in the table as being beneficially owned by the reporting persons are also
 included in a separate report as being beneficially owned by Mr. Abrams.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Each of Abrams Capital, Pamet L.P., Pamet LLC and Mr. Abrams and each reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all
 reported shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein and the inclusion of the shares in this report shall
 not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other
 purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Abrams, the Managing Member of Abrams Capital, LLC, the General Partner of Abrams Capital Partners I, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Abrams, the Managing Member of Abrams Capital, LLC, the General Partner of Abrams Capital Partners II, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Abrams, the Managing Member of Abrams Capital, LLC, the General Partner of Whitecrest Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Abrams, the Managing Member of Great Hollow Partners LLC, the General Partner of Great Hollow International, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Abrams, the Managing Member of Riva Capital Management LLC, the General Partner of Riva Capital Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Abrams, the Managing Member of 222 Partners, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
