Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Site rental revenues		$ 152,023	$ 152,946	$ 454,245	$ 462,934
Operating expenses:
Site rental cost of operations—third parties	[1]	38,061	38,194	112,958	112,760
Site rental cost of operations—related parties	[1]	8,002	7,639	23,731	22,719
Site rental cost of operations—total	[1]	46,063	45,833	136,689	135,479
Management fee—related party		10,981	10,625	32,564	31,991
Asset write-down charges		1,377	1,500	3,435	2,894
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		51,819	50,705	154,800	150,821
Total operating expenses		110,240	108,663	327,488	321,185
Operating income (loss)		41,783	44,283	126,757	141,749
Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs		(13,306)	(13,306)	(39,917)	(39,917)
Other income (expense)		143	160	158	147
Income (loss) before income taxes		28,620	31,137	86,998	101,979
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		(103)	(100)	(309)	(300)
Net income (loss)		$ 28,517	$ 31,037	$ 86,689	$ 101,679

[1] Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion shown separately and certain indirect costs included in the management fee.