Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Feb. 15, 2017 |
Jun. 30, 2016 |
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| Entity Information [Line Items] | |||
| Entity Registrant Name | CC Holdings GS V LLC | ||
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001574291 | ||
| Current Fiscal Year End Date | --12-31 | ||
| Entity Filer Category | Non-accelerated Filer | ||
| Document Type | 10-K | ||
| Document Period End Date | Dec. 31, 2016 | ||
| Document Fiscal Year Focus | 2016 | ||
| Document Fiscal Period Focus | FY | ||
| Amendment Flag | false | ||
| Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | 0 | ||
| Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer | No | ||
| Entity Voluntary Filers | No | ||
| Entity Current Reporting Status | Yes | ||
| Entity Public Float | $ 0.0 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition If the value is true, then the document is an amendment to previously-filed/accepted document. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD. No definition available.
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- Definition This is focus fiscal period of the document report. For a first quarter 2006 quarterly report, which may also provide financial information from prior periods, the first fiscal quarter should be given as the fiscal period focus. Values: FY, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, H1, H2, M9, T1, T2, T3, M8, CY. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This is focus fiscal year of the document report in CCYY format. For a 2006 annual report, which may also provide financial information from prior periods, fiscal 2006 should be given as the fiscal year focus. Example: 2006. No definition available.
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- Definition The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented. If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD. No definition available.
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- Definition The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word "Other". No definition available.
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- Definition A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Indicate number of shares or other units outstanding of each of registrant's classes of capital or common stock or other ownership interests, if and as stated on cover of related periodic report. Where multiple classes or units exist define each class/interest by adding class of stock items such as Common Class A [Member], Common Class B [Member] or Partnership Interest [Member] onto the Instrument [Domain] of the Entity Listings, Instrument. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Indicate "Yes" or "No" whether registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Indicate whether the registrant is one of the following: (1) Large Accelerated Filer, (2) Accelerated Filer, (3) Non-accelerated Filer, (4) Smaller Reporting Company (Non-accelerated) or (5) Smaller Reporting Accelerated Filer. Definitions of these categories are stated in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure. No definition available.
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
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- Definition State aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to price at which the common equity was last sold, or average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter. The public float should be reported on the cover page of the registrants form 10K. No definition available.
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- Definition The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Indicate "Yes" or "No" if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. No definition available.
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- Definition Indicate "Yes" or "No" if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Is used on Form Type: 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, 20-F, 6-K, 10-K/A, 10-Q/A, 20-F/A, 6-K/A, N-CSR, N-Q, N-1A. No definition available.
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Consolidated Balance Sheet - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ 19,550 | $ 20,401 | |||
| Receivables, net of allowance of $1,810 and $882, respectively | 3,527 | 3,987 | |||
| Prepaid expenses | 24,051 | 24,318 | |||
| Deferred site rental receivables, current | 19,833 | 10,165 | |||
| Other current assets | 480 | 1,171 | |||
| Total current assets | 67,441 | 60,042 | |||
| Deferred site rental receivables | 346,507 | 350,407 | |||
| Property and equipment, net | 1,088,883 | 1,135,704 | [1] | ||
| Goodwill | 1,338,730 | 1,338,730 | |||
| Site rental contracts and customer relationships, net | 1,016,200 | 1,128,422 | |||
| Other intangible assets, net | 21,807 | 23,932 | |||
| Long-term prepaid rent and other assets, net | 35,490 | 32,835 | |||
| Total Assets | 3,915,058 | 4,070,072 | |||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||
| Accounts payable | 3,387 | 2,691 | |||
| Accrued income taxes | 1,340 | 2,359 | |||
| Accrued interest | 8,126 | 8,655 | |||
| Deferred revenues | 11,930 | 12,165 | |||
| Other accrued liabilities | 8,516 | 7,775 | |||
| Total current liabilities | 33,299 | 33,645 | |||
| Debt | 991,279 | 1,487,055 | |||
| Deferred ground lease payable | 102,519 | 95,837 | |||
| Above-market leases and other liabilities | 48,716 | 49,187 | |||
| Total liabilities | 1,175,813 | 1,665,724 | |||
| Commitments and contingencies (note 9) | |||||
| Member's equity: | |||||
| Member's equity | 2,739,245 | 2,327,938 | |||
| Accumulated earnings (deficit) | 0 | 76,410 | |||
| Total member's equity | 2,739,245 | 2,404,348 | |||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ 3,915,058 | $ 4,070,072 | |||
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Deferred Ground Lease Payable No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of the intangible assets that arise from site rental contracts and customer relationships, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the unpaid sum of the known and estimated amounts payable to satisfy all currently due domestic and foreign income tax obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold, or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Represents the caption on the face of the balance sheet to indicate that the entity has entered into (1) purchase or supply arrangements that will require expending a portion of its resources to meet the terms thereof, and (2) is exposed to potential losses or, less frequently, gains, arising from (a) possible claims against a company's resources due to future performance under contract terms, and (b) possible losses or likely gains from uncertainties that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events that are deemed likely to occur do occur or fail to occur. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition For a classified balance sheet, the cumulative difference between the rental income or payments required by a lease agreement and the rental income or expense recognized on a straight-line basis, or other systematic and rational basis more representative of the time pattern in which use or benefit is granted or derived from the leased property, expected to be recognized in income or expense, by the lessor or lessee, respectively, within one year (or one operating cycle, if longer) of the balance sheet date. Such receivable is reduced by allowances attributable to, for instance, credit risk associated with a lessee. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition For a classified balance sheet, the cumulative difference between the rental income or payments required by a lease agreement and the rental income or expense recognized on a straight-line basis, or other systematic and rational basis more representative of the time pattern in which use or benefit is granted or derived from the leased property, expected to be recognized in income or expense, by the lessor or lessee, respectively, more than one year after the balance sheet date. Such receivable is reduced by allowances attributable to, for instance, credit risk associated with a lessee. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The carrying amount of consideration received or receivable as of the balance sheet date on potential earnings that were not recognized as revenue in conformity with GAAP, and which are expected to be recognized as such within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, including sales, license fees, and royalties, but excluding interest income. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of [accrued] interest payable on all forms of debt, including trade payables, that has been incurred and is unpaid. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all liabilities that are recognized. Liabilities are probable future sacrifices of economic benefits arising from present obligations of an entity to transfer assets or provide services to other entities in the future. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of liabilities and equity items, including the portion of equity attributable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition Total obligations incurred as part of normal operations that are expected to be paid during the following twelve months or within one business cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of member capital in limited liability company (LLC). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of ownership interest in limited liability company (LLC), attributable to the parent entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of current assets classified as other. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of noncurrent assets classified as other. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount after accumulated amortization of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets classified as other. No definition available.
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- Definition Amount of liabilities classified as other, due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits within a future period of one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, current | $ 1,810 | $ 882 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
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| Net revenues: | ||||||
| Site rental revenues | $ 611,639 | $ 607,276 | $ 614,085 | |||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||
| Site rental cost of operations—third parties(a) | [1] | 151,812 | 150,225 | 150,407 | ||
| Site rental cost of operations—related parties(a) | [1] | 33,901 | 31,859 | 30,248 | ||
| Site rental cost of operations—total(a) | [1] | 185,713 | 182,084 | 180,655 | ||
| Management fee—related party | 45,433 | 43,709 | 42,686 | |||
| Asset write-down charges | 4,851 | 6,021 | 3,598 | |||
| Depreciation, amortization, and accretion | 209,361 | 207,825 | 201,726 | |||
| Total operating expenses | 445,358 | 439,639 | 428,665 | |||
| Operating income (loss) | 166,281 | 167,637 | 185,420 | |||
| Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs | (49,515) | (53,223) | (53,223) | |||
| Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations | (10,273) | 0 | 0 | |||
| Other income (expense) | (242) | (244) | 208 | |||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 106,251 | 114,170 | 132,405 | |||
| Benefit (provision) for income taxes | 668 | 733 | (402) | |||
| Net income (loss) | 106,919 | 114,903 | 132,003 | |||
| Net income (loss) | $ 106,919 | $ 114,903 | $ 132,003 | |||
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Costs incurred with related parties that are directly related to generating revenues from leased and rented property or equipment. No definition available.
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- Definition Costs incurred with third parties that are directly related to generating revenues from leased and rented property or equipment. No definition available.
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- Definition The cost of borrowed funds and the amortization of interest rate swaps accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period. No definition available.
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- Definition Amount of expenses charged by affiliate related to the management services to maintain, market, operate, manage and administer the towers. No definition available.
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- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Total costs of sales and operating expenses for the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The aggregate net amount of depreciation, amortization, and accretion recognized during an accounting period. As a noncash item, the net amount is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of expense incurred and directly related to generating revenue from leased and rented property or equipment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues. No definition available.
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- Definition The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of income (expense) related to nonoperating activities, classified as other. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The components of interest expense representing the non-cash expenses against earnings in the period including amortization of deferred financing costs, interest rate swaps, adjustments on long-term debt and other non-cash interest. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The aggregate net amount of depreciation, amortization, and accretion recognized during an accounting period. As a noncash item, the net amount is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in receivables to be collected from an entity that is controlling, under the control of, or within the same control group as the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Change in recurring obligations of a business that arise from the acquisition of merchandise, materials, supplies and services used in the production and sale of goods and services. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in interest payable, which represents the amount owed to note holders, bond holders, and other parties for interest earned on loans or credit extended to the reporting entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in operating assets classified as other. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in operating liabilities classified as other. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the total amount due within one year (or one operating cycle) from all parties, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Consolidated Statement of Changes in Member's Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Total |
Members' Capital [Member] |
Accumulated Earnings (Deficit) [Member] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance, beginning at Dec. 31, 2013 | $ 2,593,366 | $ 2,327,938 | $ 265,428 |
| Equity [Roll Forward] | |||
| Equity distribution | (204,324) | 0 | (204,324) |
| Net income (loss) | 132,003 | 132,003 | |
| Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2014 | 2,521,045 | 2,327,938 | 193,107 |
| Equity [Roll Forward] | |||
| Equity distribution | (231,600) | 0 | (231,600) |
| Net income (loss) | 114,903 | 114,903 | |
| Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2015 | 2,404,348 | 2,327,938 | 76,410 |
| Equity [Roll Forward] | |||
| Equity distribution | Equity contribution related to debt repayment [Member] | 508,472 | 508,472 | 0 |
| Equity distribution | (280,494) | (97,165) | (183,329) |
| Net income (loss) | 106,919 | 106,919 | |
| Balance, ending at Dec. 31, 2016 | $ 2,739,245 | $ 2,739,245 | $ 0 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in receivables to be collected from an entity that is controlling, under the control of, or within the same control group as the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of ownership interest in limited liability company (LLC), attributable to the parent entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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Basis of Presentation |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Basis of Presentation [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation | Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of CC Holdings GS V LLC ("CCL") and its consolidated wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Signal Operating Partnership, L.P. ("GSOP"), which is an indirect subsidiary of Crown Castle International Corp., a Delaware corporation ("CCIC" or "Crown Castle"). CCL is a Delaware limited liability company ("LLC") that is a holding company and an issuer of the Company's debt. All significant inter-company accounts, transactions, and profits have been eliminated. As used herein, the term "including," and any variation thereof means "including without limitations." The use of the word "or" herein is not exclusive. The Company is organized specifically to own, lease, and manage approximately 7,700 communications towers and other structures (collectively, "towers"), and to a lesser extent, interests in land under third party and related party towers in various forms, ("land interests") (collectively, "wireless infrastructure" or "sites") that are geographically dispersed across the United States ("U.S"). The Company's core business is providing access, including space or capacity, to its sites via long-term contracts in various forms, including licenses, subleases, and lease agreements (collectively, "leases"). Approximately 68% of the Company's sites are leased or subleased or operated and managed for an initial period of 32 years (through May 2037) under master lease or other agreements with Sprint ("Sprint Sites"). CCIC, through its subsidiaries (including the Company), has the option to purchase in 2037 all (but not less than all) of the Sprint Sites from Sprint for approximately $2.3 billion. CCIC has no obligation to exercise the purchase option. Management services related to the Company's sites are performed by Crown Castle USA Inc. ("CCUSA"), an affiliate of the Company, under the Management Agreement (as defined below), as the Company has no employees. CCIC operates as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company's assets and operations are part of the CCIC REIT. See notes 2 and 8. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and use assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure for contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. |
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- Definition Basis of Presentation [Abstract] No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Receivables Allowance An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as an offset to accounts receivable. The Company uses judgment in estimating this allowance and considers historical collections, current credit status, or contractual provisions. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are charged to “site rental cost of operations,” and deductions from the allowance are recorded when specific accounts receivable are written off as uncollectible. Lease Accounting General. The Company classifies its leases at inception as either operating leases or capital leases. A lease is classified as a capital lease if at least one of the following criteria are met, subject to certain exceptions noted below: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the leased assets to the lessee, (2) there is a bargain purchase option, (3) the lease term is equal to 75% or more of the economic life of the leased assets or (4) the present value of the minimum lease payments equals or exceeds 90% of the fair value of the leased assets. Lessee. Leases for land are evaluated for capital lease treatment if at least one of the first two criteria mentioned in the immediately preceding paragraph is present relating to the leased assets. When the Company, as lessee, classifies a lease as a capital lease, it records an asset in an amount equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments under the lease at the beginning of the lease term. Applicable operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis as discussed under "Costs of Operations" below. Lessor. If the Company is the lessor of leased property that is part of a larger whole (including a portion of space on a tower) and for which fair value is not objectively determinable, then such lease is accounted for as an operating lease. As applicable, operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis as discussed under "Revenue Recognition." See also "Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted" below for further discussion. Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Property and equipment includes land owned in fee and perpetual easements for land which have no definite life. When the Company purchases fee ownership or perpetual easements for the land previously subject to ground lease, the Company reduces the value recorded as land by the amount of any associated deferred ground lease payable or unamortized above-market leases. Depreciation is computed utilizing the straight-line method at rates based upon the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. Depreciation of wireless infrastructure is generally computed with a useful life equal to the shorter of 20 years or the term of the underlying ground lease (including optional renewal periods). Additions, renewals, or improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed. The carrying value of property and equipment will be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Abandonments and write-offs of property and equipment are recorded to "asset write-down charges" on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and were $4.9 million, $5.4 million, and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Asset Retirement Obligations Pursuant to its ground lease and easement agreements, the Company records obligations to perform asset retirement activities, including requirements to remove wireless infrastructure or remediate the land upon which the Company's wireless infrastructure resides. With respect to the Sprint Sites, the Company does not have retirement obligations to the extent such retirement would occur beyond the period for which it has a lease term. Asset retirement obligations are included in "above-market leases and other liabilities" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The liability accretes as a result of the passage of time and the related accretion expense is included in "depreciation, amortization, and accretion" expense on the Company's consolidated statement of operations. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as an additional carrying amount of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the useful life of such asset. Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price for an acquired business over the allocated value of the related net assets. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, regardless of whether adverse events or changes in circumstances have occurred. The annual test begins with goodwill and all intangible assets being allocated to applicable reporting units. The Company then performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of the reporting units is less than its carrying amount. If it is concluded that it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The two-step goodwill impairment test begins with a comparison of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit and the carrying value of the reporting unit. The first step, commonly referred to as a “step-one impairment test,” is a screen for potential impairment while the second step measures the amount of any impairment if there is an indication from the first step that one exists. The Company's measurement of the fair value for goodwill is based on an estimate of discounted expected future cash flows of the reporting unit. The Company has one reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing. The Company performed its most recent annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2016, which resulted in no impairments. Other Intangible Assets Intangible assets are included in "site rental contracts and customer relationship, net" and "other intangible assets, net" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and predominately consist of the estimated fair value of the following items recorded in conjunction with acquisitions: (1) site rental contracts and customer relationships or (2) below-market leases for land interests under the acquired towers classified as "other intangible assets, net." The site rental contracts and customer relationships intangible assets are comprised of (1) the current term of the existing leases, (2) the expected exercise of the renewal provisions contained within the existing leases, which automatically occur under contractual provisions, or (3) any associated relationships that are expected to generate value following the expiration of all renewal periods under existing leases. The useful lives of intangible assets are estimated based on the period over which the intangible asset is expected to benefit the Company, which is calculated on an individual tenant basis, considering, among other things, the contractual provisions with the tenant and gives consideration to the expected useful life of other assets to which the useful life may relate. Amortization expense for intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each of the intangible assets. The useful life of the site rental contracts and customer relationships intangible asset is limited by the maximum depreciable life of the tower (20 years), as a result of the interdependency of the tower and site rental contracts and customer relationships. In contrast, the site rental contracts and customer relationships are estimated to provide economic benefits for several decades because of the low rate of tenant cancellations and high rate of renewals experienced to date. Thus, while site rental contracts and customer relationships are valued based upon the fair value, which includes assumptions regarding both (1) tenants' exercise of optional renewals contained in the acquired leases and (2) renewals of the acquired leases past the contractual term including exercisable options, the site rental contracts and customer relationships are amortized over a period not to exceed 20 years as a result of the useful life being limited by the depreciable life of the sites. The carrying value of other intangible assets with finite useful lives will be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company has a dual grouping policy for purposes of determining the unit of account for testing impairment of the site rental contracts and customer relationships intangible assets. First, the Company pools the site rental contracts and customer relationships with the related tower assets into portfolio groups for purposes of determining the unit of account for impairment testing. Second and separately, the Company evaluates the site rental contracts and customer relationships by significant tenant or by tenant grouping for individually insignificant tenants, as appropriate. If the sum of the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted) expected to result from the use or eventual disposition of an asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized. Measurement of an impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. Above-market Leases Above-market leases consist of the estimated fair value of above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers. Above-market leases for land interests are amortized to costs of operations over their respective estimated remaining lease term at the acquisition date. Deferred Financing Costs Third-party costs incurred to obtain financing are deferred and are included as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability in "debt" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. See also "Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements" below for further discussion. Revenue Recognition Site rental revenues are recognized on a monthly basis over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the relevant lease (generally ranging from five to 15 years), regardless of whether the payments from the tenant are received in equal monthly amounts. The Company's contracts contain fixed escalation clauses (such as fixed dollar or fixed percentage increases) or inflation-based escalation clauses (such as those tied to the consumer price index ("CPI")). If the payment terms call for fixed escalations, up-front payments, or rent free periods, the revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the agreement. When calculating straight-line rental revenues, the Company considers all fixed elements of tenant contractual escalation provisions, even if such escalation provisions contain a variable element in addition to a minimum. The Company's assets related to straight-line site rental revenues are included in "deferred site rental receivables." Amounts billed or received prior to being earned are deferred and reflected in "deferred revenues" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. See also "Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted" below for further discussion. Costs of Operations In excess of three-fourths of the Company's site rental cost of operations consists of ground lease expenses, and the remainder includes repairs and maintenance expenses, utilities, property taxes, or insurance. Generally, the ground lease agreements are specific to each site and are for an initial term of five years and are renewable for pre-determined periods. The Company also enters into term easements and ground leases in which it prepays the entire term in advance. Ground lease expense is recognized on a monthly basis, regardless of whether the lease agreement payment terms require the Company to make payments annually, quarterly, monthly, or for the entire term in advance. The Company's ground leases contain fixed escalation clauses (such as fixed dollar or fixed percentage increases) or inflation-based escalation clauses (such as those tied to the CPI). If the payment terms include fixed escalation provisions, the effect of such increases is recognized on a straight-line basis. The Company calculates the straight-line ground lease expense using a time period that equals or exceeds the remaining depreciable life of the wireless infrastructure asset. Further, when a tenant has exercisable renewal options that would compel the Company to exercise existing ground lease renewal options, the Company has straight-lined the ground lease expense over a sufficient portion of such ground lease renewals to coincide with the final termination of the tenant's renewal options. The Company's policy is to record ground lease agreements with affiliates under the same or similar economic terms as the lease agreement for the land that existed prior to the purchase of such land by the affiliate. The Company's non-current liability related to straight-line ground lease expense is included in "deferred ground lease payable" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company's assets related to prepaid ground leases is included in "prepaid expenses" and "long-term prepaid rent and other assets, net" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company's current liability related to accrued property taxes is included in "other accrued liabilities" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and was $5.8 million and $5.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Management Fee The Company is charged a management fee by CCUSA, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of CCIC, relating to management services which include those functions reasonably necessary to maintain, market, operate, manage, and administer the sites. The management fee is equal to 7.5% of the Company's revenues, excluding the revenues related to the accounting for leases with fixed escalators as required by the applicable accounting standards. See note 6. Income Taxes CCIC operates as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company is an indirect subsidiary of CCIC and for U.S. federal income taxes purposes the Company's assets and operations are part of the CCIC REIT. As a REIT, CCIC is generally entitled to a deduction for dividends that it pays and therefore is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its taxable income that is currently distributed to its stockholders. CCIC also may be subject to certain federal, state, local, and foreign taxes on its income and assets, including (1) alternative minimum taxes, (2) taxes on any undistributed income, (3) taxes related to the CCIC's taxable REIT subsidiaries, (4) certain state, local, or foreign income taxes, (5) franchise taxes, (6) property taxes, and (7) transfer taxes. In addition, CCIC could in certain circumstances be required to pay an excise or penalty tax, which could be significant in amount, in order to utilize one or more relief provisions under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") to maintain qualification for taxation as a REIT. Fair Values The Company's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are (1) Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active and accessible markets, (2) Level 2 - observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted in active markets but corroborated by market data, and (3) Level 3 - unobservable inputs and are not corroborated by market data. The Company evaluates fair value hierarchy level classifications quarterly, and transfers between levels are effective at the end of the quarterly period. The fair value of cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates the carrying value. The Company determines fair value of its debt securities based on indicative quotes (that is non-binding quotes) from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information including implied credit spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask prices or quotes from active markets if applicable. There were no changes since December 31, 2015 in the Company's valuation techniques used to measure fair values. See note 7. Reporting Segments The Company has one operating segment. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs. The guidance requires debt issuance costs be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts and premiums. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2016, and has applied the guidance retrospectively. As a result, the Company reclassified $12.9 million of deferred financing costs from "long-term prepaid rent and other assets, net" to "debt" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the FASB released updated guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers, exclusive of those contracts within lease accounting. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps: (1) identify the contracts with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the contract price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. This guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, following the FASB's July 2015 decision to defer the effective date of the standard by one year. This guidance is required to be applied, at the Company's election, either (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) with the cumulative effect being recognized at the date of initial application. The Company's site rental revenues are within the scope of lease accounting and will not be impacted by this guidance. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. The new guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The accounting for lessors remains largely unchanged from existing guidance. This guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2019 and is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. Early adoption is permitted. CCIC (1) has established a cross functional project plan to assess the impact of the standard, (2) expects this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheet due to the addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases with a term greater than 12 months, and (3) continues to assess additional impacts to the Company's consolidated financial statements, including the consolidated statement of operations. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition and measurement of expected credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including accounts receivable. The new guidance requires entities to estimate the expected credit loss over the life of certain financial instruments at initial recognition of the financial instrument. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing the second step of the existing goodwill impairment test. As a result of the guidance, goodwill impairment, if any, will be measured during the step-one impairment test as the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. Additionally, the guidance does not change the option to complete a qualitative assessment prior to performing a step-one impairment test. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance, including the impact on its consolidated financial statements. |
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- Definition Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Property and Equipment |
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| Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment The major classes of property and equipment are as follows:
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 was $93.5 million, $92.2 million, and $86.2 million, respectively. As discussed in notes 1 and 2, the Company has certain prepaid capital leases and associated leasehold improvements, which have related gross property and equipment and accumulated depreciation of $1.0 billion and $512.5 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2016. |
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, accounting policies and methodology, roll forwards, depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, including composite depreciation, accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, useful lives and method used, income statement disclosures, assets held for sale and public utility disclosures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Intangible Assets and Above-market Leases |
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| Intangible Assets and Above-market Leases | Intangible Assets and Above-market Leases The following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets.
Amortization expense related to intangible assets is classified as follows on the Company's consolidated statement of operations:
The estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets (inclusive of those recorded as an increase to "site rental costs of operations") for the years ended December 31, 2017 to 2021 is as follows:
See note 2 for a further discussion of above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers recorded in connection with acquisitions. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded $1.8 million, $1.9 million and $2.0 million, respectively, as a decrease to "site rental cost of operations." The following is a summary of the Company's above-market leases.
The estimated annual amortization expense related to above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers for the years ended December 31, 2017 to 2021 is as follows:
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- Definition Goodwill and Intangible Assets No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for all or part of the information related to intangible assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Debt and Other Obligations |
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| Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt and Other Obligations | Debt 2012 Secured Notes On December 24, 2012, CCL and Crown Castle GS III Corp. ("Co-Issuer" and, together with CCL, "Issuers") issued (1) $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.381% senior secured notes due December 2017 ("2.381% Secured Notes") and (2) $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.849% senior secured notes due April 2023 ("3.849% Secured Notes" and together with the 2.381% Secured Notes, the "2012 Secured Notes"). The 2012 Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 24, 2012 ("Indenture"), by and among the Issuers, the Guarantors (as defined below) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee ("Trustee"). The Issuers and the Guarantors are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of CCIC. The Company used the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2012 Secured Notes to (1) repurchase and redeem a portion of the previously outstanding 7.75% senior secured notes due 2017 ("7.75% Secured Notes") and (2) distribute cash to CCIC to fund the repurchase and redemption of a portion of CCIC's senior notes. The outstanding balance of the 2012 Secured Notes as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. See below for discussion related to the repayment of the previously outstanding 2.381% Secured Notes. The stated interest rate of the 2012 Secured Notes as of December 31, 2016 was 3.849% per annum. The 3.849% Secured Notes are payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2013. CCL, at its option, may redeem the 2012 Secured Notes of either series in whole or in part at any time by paying 100% of the principal amount of such series of 2012 Secured Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, plus a "make-whole" premium (as defined in the Indenture). The 2012 Secured Notes are guaranteed by the direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of CCL, other than the Co-Issuer (collectively, "Guarantors"). The 2012 Secured Notes will be paid solely from the cash flows generated from operation of the towers held directly or indirectly by CCL and the Guarantors. Concurrently with the issuance of the 2012 Secured Notes, CCL and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a pledge and security agreement with the Trustee. Pursuant to the terms of such pledge and security agreement, the 2012 Secured Notes are secured on a first-priority basis by a pledge of the equity interests of the Guarantors. The Indenture limits, among other things, the ability of CCL and its subsidiaries to incur indebtedness, incur liens, enter into certain mergers or certain change of control transactions and enter into related party transactions, in each case subject to a number of exceptions and qualifications set forth in the Indenture. Management Agreement. On December 24, 2012, CCL and the Guarantors entered into a management agreement ("Management Agreement") with CCUSA, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of CCIC ("Manager"). The Management Agreement replaced the previous management agreement that existed among the parties. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, the Manager will continue to perform, on behalf of CCL and the Guarantors, those functions reasonably necessary to maintain, market, operate, manage, and administer their respective sites. The Management Agreement requires that the Company maintain cash sufficient to operate the business, including sufficient cash to pay expenses for the following month (including any interest payment due during the next month pursuant to the Indenture.) Debt Restrictions. The 2012 Secured Notes do not contain financial maintenance covenants but they do contain restrictive negative covenants, subject to certain exceptions, related to the Company's ability to incur indebtedness, incur liens, enter into certain mergers or change of control transactions, sell or issue equity interests and enter into related party transactions. With respect to the restriction regarding the issuance of debt, the Company may not issue debt other than (1) certain permitted refinancings of the 2012 Secured Notes, (2) unsecured trade payables in the ordinary course of business and financing of equipment, land or other property up to an aggregate of $100.0 million, or (3) unsecured debt or additional notes under the Indenture provided that the Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio (as defined in the Indenture) at the time of incurrence, and after giving effect to such incurrence, would have been no greater than 3.5 to 1. As of December 31, 2016, the Company's Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow Ratio is 2.7 to 1, and, as a result, the Company is not restricted in its ability to incur additional indebtedness. Further, the Company is not restricted in its ability to distribute cash to affiliates or issue dividends to its member and ultimately other subsidiaries of CCIC. Contractual Maturities The following are the scheduled contractual maturities of total debt outstanding at December 31, 2016.
Previously Outstanding Debt In September 2016, CCIC issued $700 million aggregate principal amount of 2.250% senior unsecured notes ("September 2016 Senior Notes"). CCIC used a portion of the net proceeds from the September 2016 Senior Notes offering to repay in full the previously outstanding 2.381% Secured Notes. The Company recorded an equity contribution related to the repayment of the previously outstanding 2.381% Secured Notes for the year ended December 31, 2016. Purchases and Redemptions of Long Term Debt The following is a summary of the purchases and redemptions of debt during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Interest Expense and Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs The components of "interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs" are as follows:
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- Definition Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract} No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for debt and capital lease obligations can be reported. Information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants. Also includes descriptions and amounts of capital leasing arrangements that consist of direct financing, sales type and leveraged leases. Disclosure may include the effect on the balance sheet and the income statement resulting from a change in lease classification for leases that at inception would have been classified differently had guidance been in effect at the inception of the original lease. No definition available.
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Related Party Transactions |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |
| Related Party Transactions Disclosure | Related Party Transactions As discussed in note 5, the Company and other subsidiaries of CCL entered into a Management Agreement with CCUSA, which replaced a previous management agreement among the same parties. Pursuant to this Management Agreement, CCUSA has agreed to employ, supervise, and pay at all times a sufficient number of capable employees as may be necessary to perform services in accordance with the operation standards defined in the Management Agreement. CCUSA currently acts as the Manager of the majority of the sites held by subsidiaries of CCIC. The management fee is equal to 7.5% of the Company's "Operating Revenues," as defined in the Management Agreement, which is based on the Company’s reported revenues adjusted to exclude certain items including revenues related to the accounting for leases with fixed escalators. The fee is compensation for those functions reasonably necessary to maintain, market, operate, manage, and administer the sites, other than the operating expenses, which includes but is not limited to real estate and personal property taxes, ground lease and easement payments, and insurance premiums. In addition, in connection with its role as Manager, CCUSA may make certain modifications to the Company's sites. The management fee charged by CCUSA for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 totaled $45.4 million, $43.7 million, and $42.7 million, respectively. See note 5. In addition, CCUSA may perform installation services on the Company's towers for which the Company is not a party to any agreement and for which no operating results are reflected herein. As part of the CCIC strategy to obtain long-term control of the land under its towers, affiliates of the Company have acquired rights to land interests under the Company's towers. These affiliates then lease the land to the Company. Under such circumstances, the Company's obligation typically continues with the same or similar economic terms as the lease agreement for the land that existed prior to the purchase of such land by the affiliate. As of December 31, 2016, there are approximately 25% of the Company's sites where the land under the tower is owned by an affiliate. Rent expense to affiliates totaled $33.9 million, $31.9 million, and $30.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. Also, the Company receives rent revenue from affiliates for land owned by the Company that affiliates have towers on and pays ground rent expense to affiliates for land owned by affiliates that the Company has towers on. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, rent revenue from affiliates totaled $1.0 million, $0.9 million, and $0.6 million, respectively. For the year ended December 2016, the Company recorded a net equity contribution of $228.0 million, which was inclusive of (1) an equity contribution from CCIC of $508.5 million related to the repayment of the previously outstanding 2.381% Secured Notes (see note 5) and (2) an equity distribution of $280.5 million, reflecting distributions to its member and ultimately other subsidiaries of CCIC. The Company recorded net equity distributions of $231.6 million and $204.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, reflecting net distributions to its member and ultimately other subsidiaries of CCIC. Cash on-hand above the amount that is required by the Management Agreement has been, and is expected to continue to be, distributed to the Company's parent company. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company has no material related party assets or liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet. |
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Fair Value Disclosures |
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| Fair Value Disclosures | Fair Values The following table shows the estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments, along with the carrying amounts of the related assets and liabilities. See also note 2.
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- Definition Fair Value Disclosures No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Commitments and Contingencies |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies The Company is involved in various claims, lawsuits, or proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While there are uncertainties inherent in the ultimate outcome of such matters, and it is impossible to presently determine the ultimate costs or losses that may be incurred, if any, management believes the resolution of such uncertainties and the incurrence of such costs should not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations. See note 10 for a discussion of the operating lease commitments. In addition, see note 1 for a discussion of the Company's option to purchase approximately 68% of the Company's towers at the end of their respective lease terms. CCIC has no obligation to exercise the purchase option. Asset Retirement Obligations Pursuant to its ground lease and easement agreements, the Company has the obligation to perform certain asset retirement activities, including requirements upon lease or easement termination to remove wireless infrastructure or remediate the land upon which its wireless infrastructure resides. Accretion expense related to liabilities for retirement obligations amounted to $2.3 million, $2.1 million, and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, liabilities for retirement obligations amounted to $28.5 million and $26.8 million, respectively, representing the net present value of the estimated expected future cash outlay. As of December 31, 2016, the estimated undiscounted future cash outlay for asset retirement obligations was approximately $132 million. See note 2. |
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- Definition Commitments and Contingencies No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Leases |
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| Leases [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leases | Leases Tenant Leases The following table is a summary of the rental cash payments owed to the Company, as a lessor, by tenants pursuant to contractual agreements in effect as of December 31, 2016. Generally, the Company's leases with its tenants provide for (1) annual escalations, (2) multiple renewal periods at the tenant's option, and (3) only limited termination rights at the applicable tenant's option through the current term. As of December 31, 2016, the weighted-average remaining term (calculated by weighting the remaining term for each lease by the related site rental revenue) of tenant leases is approximately six years, exclusive of renewals at the tenant's option. The tenants' rental payments included in the table below are through the current terms with a maximum current term of 20 years and do not assume exercise of tenant renewal options.
Operating Leases The following table is a summary of rental cash payments owed by the Company, as lessee, to landlords pursuant to contractual agreements in effect as of December 31, 2016. The Company is obligated under non-cancelable operating leases for land interests under approximately 90% of its sites. The majority of these lease agreements have (1) certain termination rights that provide for cancellation after a notice period, (2) multiple renewal options at the Company's option, and (3) annual escalations. Lease agreements may also contain provisions for a contingent payment based on revenues or the gross margin derived from the tower located on the leased land interest. Approximately 90% and approximately 50% of the Company's site rental gross margins for the year ended December 31, 2016 are derived from towers where the land interest under the tower is owned or leased with final expiration dates of greater than ten and 20 years, respectively, including renewals at the Company's option. The operating lease payments included in the table below include payments for certain renewal periods at the Company's option up to the estimated tower useful life of 20 years and an estimate of contingent payments based on revenues and gross margins derived from existing tenant leases. See also note 6.
Rental expense from operating leases was $144.6 million, $142.9 million, and $141.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. The rental expense was inclusive of contingent payments based on revenues or gross margin derived from the tower located on the leased land of $29.0 million, $28.0 million, and $28.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. |
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- Definition This disclosure represents the Company’s tenant contracts and operating leases footnote. No definition available.
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- References No definition available.
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Concentration of Credit Risk |
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| Concentration of Credit Risk | Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables. The Company mitigates its risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents by maintaining such deposits at high credit quality financial institutions and monitoring the credit ratings of those institutions. See note 2. The Company derives the largest portion of its revenues from customers in the wireless industry. The Company also has a concentration in its volume of business with Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless that accounts for a significant portion of the Company's revenues, receivables, and deferred site rental receivables. The Company mitigates its concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables by actively monitoring the creditworthiness of its tenants, the use of tenant leases with contractually determinable payment terms and proactive management of past due balances. Major Customers The following table summarizes the percentage of the Company's revenues for those tenants accounting for more than 10% of the Company's revenues.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for any concentrations existing at the date of the financial statements that make an entity vulnerable to a reasonably possible, near-term, severe impact. This disclosure informs financial statement users about the general nature of the risk associated with the concentration, and may indicate the percentage of concentration risk as of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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Supplemental Cash Flow Information |
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| Supplemental Cash Flow Information | Supplemental Cash Flow Information The following table is a summary of the supplemental cash flow information during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for supplemental cash flow activities, including cash, noncash, and part noncash transactions, for the period. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- References No definition available.
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Guarantor Subsidiaries (Notes) |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Guarantees [Abstract] | |
| Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantor Subsidiaries CCL has no independent assets or operations. The 2012 Secured Notes are guaranteed by all subsidiaries of CCL, each of which is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of CCL, other than Crown Castle GS III Corp., which is a co-issuer of the 2012 Secured Notes and a 100% wholly-owned finance subsidiary. Such guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several. Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, a guarantor may be released and relieved of its obligations under its guarantee under certain circumstances including: (1) in the event of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise to a person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) CCL or a subsidiary of CCL, (2) in the event of any sale or other disposition of all of the capital stock of any guarantor, to a person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) CCL or a subsidiary of CCL, (3) upon CCL's exercise of legal defeasance in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Indenture, or (4) upon the discharge of the Indenture in accordance with its terms. |
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition The entire disclosure for each guarantee obligation, or each group of similar guarantee obligations, including (a) the nature of the guarantee, including its term, how it arose, and the events or circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under the guarantee; (b) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee; (c) the current carrying amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor's obligations under the guarantee; and (d) the nature of any recourse provisions under the guarantee, and any assets held either as collateral or by third parties, and any relevant related party disclosure. Excludes disclosures about product warranties. No definition available.
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Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Notes) |
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| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation Disclosure [Text Block] |
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- Definition The entire disclosure of real estate investments and associated accumulated depreciation for entities with a significant portion of their business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
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Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Notes) |
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| Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block] | CC HOLDINGS GS V LLC SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 2015 AND 2014 (In thousands of dollars)
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- Definition The entire disclosure for any allowance and reserve accounts (their beginning and ending balances, as well as a reconciliation by type of activity during the period). Alternatively, disclosure of the required information may be within the footnotes to the financial statements or a supplemental schedule to the financial statements. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) |
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| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Receivables Allowance | Receivables Allowance An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as an offset to accounts receivable. The Company uses judgment in estimating this allowance and considers historical collections, current credit status, or contractual provisions. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts are charged to “site rental cost of operations,” and deductions from the allowance are recorded when specific accounts receivable are written off as uncollectible. |
| Lease, Policy | Lease Accounting General. The Company classifies its leases at inception as either operating leases or capital leases. A lease is classified as a capital lease if at least one of the following criteria are met, subject to certain exceptions noted below: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the leased assets to the lessee, (2) there is a bargain purchase option, (3) the lease term is equal to 75% or more of the economic life of the leased assets or (4) the present value of the minimum lease payments equals or exceeds 90% of the fair value of the leased assets. Lessee. Leases for land are evaluated for capital lease treatment if at least one of the first two criteria mentioned in the immediately preceding paragraph is present relating to the leased assets. When the Company, as lessee, classifies a lease as a capital lease, it records an asset in an amount equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments under the lease at the beginning of the lease term. Applicable operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis as discussed under "Costs of Operations" below. Lessor. If the Company is the lessor of leased property that is part of a larger whole (including a portion of space on a tower) and for which fair value is not objectively determinable, then such lease is accounted for as an operating lease. As applicable, operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis as discussed under "Revenue Recognition." |
| Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Property and equipment includes land owned in fee and perpetual easements for land which have no definite life. When the Company purchases fee ownership or perpetual easements for the land previously subject to ground lease, the Company reduces the value recorded as land by the amount of any associated deferred ground lease payable or unamortized above-market leases. Depreciation is computed utilizing the straight-line method at rates based upon the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. Depreciation of wireless infrastructure is generally computed with a useful life equal to the shorter of 20 years or the term of the underlying ground lease (including optional renewal periods). Additions, renewals, or improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed. The carrying value of property and equipment will be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Abandonments and write-offs of property and equipment are recorded to "asset write-down charges" on the Company's consolidated statement of operations and were $4.9 million, $5.4 million, and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively. |
| Asset Retirement Obligations | Asset Retirement Obligations Pursuant to its ground lease and easement agreements, the Company records obligations to perform asset retirement activities, including requirements to remove wireless infrastructure or remediate the land upon which the Company's wireless infrastructure resides. With respect to the Sprint Sites, the Company does not have retirement obligations to the extent such retirement would occur beyond the period for which it has a lease term. Asset retirement obligations are included in "above-market leases and other liabilities" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The liability accretes as a result of the passage of time and the related accretion expense is included in "depreciation, amortization, and accretion" expense on the Company's consolidated statement of operations. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as an additional carrying amount of the related long-lived asset and depreciated over the useful life of such asset. |
| Goodwill | Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price for an acquired business over the allocated value of the related net assets. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, regardless of whether adverse events or changes in circumstances have occurred. The annual test begins with goodwill and all intangible assets being allocated to applicable reporting units. The Company then performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of the reporting units is less than its carrying amount. If it is concluded that it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The two-step goodwill impairment test begins with a comparison of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit and the carrying value of the reporting unit. The first step, commonly referred to as a “step-one impairment test,” is a screen for potential impairment while the second step measures the amount of any impairment if there is an indication from the first step that one exists. The Company's measurement of the fair value for goodwill is based on an estimate of discounted expected future cash flows of the reporting unit. The Company has one reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing. The Company performed its most recent annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2016, which resulted in no impairments. |
| Other Intangible Assets | Other Intangible Assets Intangible assets are included in "site rental contracts and customer relationship, net" and "other intangible assets, net" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and predominately consist of the estimated fair value of the following items recorded in conjunction with acquisitions: (1) site rental contracts and customer relationships or (2) below-market leases for land interests under the acquired towers classified as "other intangible assets, net." The site rental contracts and customer relationships intangible assets are comprised of (1) the current term of the existing leases, (2) the expected exercise of the renewal provisions contained within the existing leases, which automatically occur under contractual provisions, or (3) any associated relationships that are expected to generate value following the expiration of all renewal periods under existing leases. The useful lives of intangible assets are estimated based on the period over which the intangible asset is expected to benefit the Company, which is calculated on an individual tenant basis, considering, among other things, the contractual provisions with the tenant and gives consideration to the expected useful life of other assets to which the useful life may relate. Amortization expense for intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each of the intangible assets. The useful life of the site rental contracts and customer relationships intangible asset is limited by the maximum depreciable life of the tower (20 years), as a result of the interdependency of the tower and site rental contracts and customer relationships. In contrast, the site rental contracts and customer relationships are estimated to provide economic benefits for several decades because of the low rate of tenant cancellations and high rate of renewals experienced to date. Thus, while site rental contracts and customer relationships are valued based upon the fair value, which includes assumptions regarding both (1) tenants' exercise of optional renewals contained in the acquired leases and (2) renewals of the acquired leases past the contractual term including exercisable options, the site rental contracts and customer relationships are amortized over a period not to exceed 20 years as a result of the useful life being limited by the depreciable life of the sites. The carrying value of other intangible assets with finite useful lives will be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. The Company has a dual grouping policy for purposes of determining the unit of account for testing impairment of the site rental contracts and customer relationships intangible assets. First, the Company pools the site rental contracts and customer relationships with the related tower assets into portfolio groups for purposes of determining the unit of account for impairment testing. Second and separately, the Company evaluates the site rental contracts and customer relationships by significant tenant or by tenant grouping for individually insignificant tenants, as appropriate. If the sum of the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted) expected to result from the use or eventual disposition of an asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized. Measurement of an impairment loss is based on the fair value of the asset. |
| Deferred Credits | Above-market Leases Above-market leases consist of the estimated fair value of above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers. Above-market leases for land interests are amortized to costs of operations over their respective estimated remaining lease term at the acquisition date. |
| Deferred Financing Costs | Deferred Financing Costs Third-party costs incurred to obtain financing are deferred and are included as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability in "debt" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. See also "Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements" below for further discussion. |
| Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition Site rental revenues are recognized on a monthly basis over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the relevant lease (generally ranging from five to 15 years), regardless of whether the payments from the tenant are received in equal monthly amounts. The Company's contracts contain fixed escalation clauses (such as fixed dollar or fixed percentage increases) or inflation-based escalation clauses (such as those tied to the consumer price index ("CPI")). If the payment terms call for fixed escalations, up-front payments, or rent free periods, the revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the agreement. When calculating straight-line rental revenues, the Company considers all fixed elements of tenant contractual escalation provisions, even if such escalation provisions contain a variable element in addition to a minimum. The Company's assets related to straight-line site rental revenues are included in "deferred site rental receivables." Amounts billed or received prior to being earned are deferred and reflected in "deferred revenues" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. See also "Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted" below for further discussion. |
| Cost of Operations | Costs of Operations In excess of three-fourths of the Company's site rental cost of operations consists of ground lease expenses, and the remainder includes repairs and maintenance expenses, utilities, property taxes, or insurance. Generally, the ground lease agreements are specific to each site and are for an initial term of five years and are renewable for pre-determined periods. The Company also enters into term easements and ground leases in which it prepays the entire term in advance. Ground lease expense is recognized on a monthly basis, regardless of whether the lease agreement payment terms require the Company to make payments annually, quarterly, monthly, or for the entire term in advance. The Company's ground leases contain fixed escalation clauses (such as fixed dollar or fixed percentage increases) or inflation-based escalation clauses (such as those tied to the CPI). If the payment terms include fixed escalation provisions, the effect of such increases is recognized on a straight-line basis. The Company calculates the straight-line ground lease expense using a time period that equals or exceeds the remaining depreciable life of the wireless infrastructure asset. Further, when a tenant has exercisable renewal options that would compel the Company to exercise existing ground lease renewal options, the Company has straight-lined the ground lease expense over a sufficient portion of such ground lease renewals to coincide with the final termination of the tenant's renewal options. The Company's policy is to record ground lease agreements with affiliates under the same or similar economic terms as the lease agreement for the land that existed prior to the purchase of such land by the affiliate. The Company's non-current liability related to straight-line ground lease expense is included in "deferred ground lease payable" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company's assets related to prepaid ground leases is included in "prepaid expenses" and "long-term prepaid rent and other assets, net" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company's current liability related to accrued property taxes is included in "other accrued liabilities" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and was $5.8 million and $5.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. |
| Management Fee | Management Fee The Company is charged a management fee by CCUSA, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of CCIC, relating to management services which include those functions reasonably necessary to maintain, market, operate, manage, and administer the sites. The management fee is equal to 7.5% of the Company's revenues, excluding the revenues related to the accounting for leases with fixed escalators as required by the applicable accounting standards. See note 6. |
| Income Taxes | Income Taxes CCIC operates as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company is an indirect subsidiary of CCIC and for U.S. federal income taxes purposes the Company's assets and operations are part of the CCIC REIT. As a REIT, CCIC is generally entitled to a deduction for dividends that it pays and therefore is not subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its taxable income that is currently distributed to its stockholders. CCIC also may be subject to certain federal, state, local, and foreign taxes on its income and assets, including (1) alternative minimum taxes, (2) taxes on any undistributed income, (3) taxes related to the CCIC's taxable REIT subsidiaries, (4) certain state, local, or foreign income taxes, (5) franchise taxes, (6) property taxes, and (7) transfer taxes. In addition, CCIC could in certain circumstances be required to pay an excise or penalty tax, which could be significant in amount, in order to utilize one or more relief provisions under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") to maintain qualification for taxation as a REIT. |
| Fair Values | Fair Values The Company's assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are (1) Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active and accessible markets, (2) Level 2 - observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted in active markets but corroborated by market data, and (3) Level 3 - unobservable inputs and are not corroborated by market data. The Company evaluates fair value hierarchy level classifications quarterly, and transfers between levels are effective at the end of the quarterly period. The fair value of cash equivalents and restricted cash approximates the carrying value. The Company determines fair value of its debt securities based on indicative quotes (that is non-binding quotes) from brokers that require judgment to interpret market information including implied credit spreads for similar borrowings on recent trades or bid/ask prices or quotes from active markets if applicable. There were no changes since December 31, 2015 in the Company's valuation techniques used to measure fair values. See note 7. |
| Reporting Segments | Reporting Segments The Company has one operating segment. |
| Recent Accounting Pronouncements | Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs. The guidance requires debt issuance costs be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts and premiums. The Company adopted the guidance as of January 1, 2016, and has applied the guidance retrospectively. As a result, the Company reclassified $12.9 million of deferred financing costs from "long-term prepaid rent and other assets, net" to "debt" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the FASB released updated guidance regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers, exclusive of those contracts within lease accounting. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps: (1) identify the contracts with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the contract price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. This guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, following the FASB's July 2015 decision to defer the effective date of the standard by one year. This guidance is required to be applied, at the Company's election, either (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) with the cumulative effect being recognized at the date of initial application. The Company's site rental revenues are within the scope of lease accounting and will not be impacted by this guidance. In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. The new guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments for all leases with a term greater than 12 months. The accounting for lessors remains largely unchanged from existing guidance. This guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2019 and is required to be applied using a modified retrospective approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. Early adoption is permitted. CCIC (1) has established a cross functional project plan to assess the impact of the standard, (2) expects this guidance to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheet due to the addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases with a term greater than 12 months, and (3) continues to assess additional impacts to the Company's consolidated financial statements, including the consolidated statement of operations. In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the recognition and measurement of expected credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including accounts receivable. The new guidance requires entities to estimate the expected credit loss over the life of certain financial instruments at initial recognition of the financial instrument. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance to simplify the accounting for goodwill impairment by removing the second step of the existing goodwill impairment test. As a result of the guidance, goodwill impairment, if any, will be measured during the step-one impairment test as the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. Additionally, the guidance does not change the option to complete a qualitative assessment prior to performing a step-one impairment test. The guidance is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance, including the impact on its consolidated financial statements. |
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- Definition Policy for accounting for deferred credits No definition available.
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- Definition Management Fee, Policy [Policy Text Block] No definition available.
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- Definition Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] No definition available.
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for determining amounts to accrue and charge against earnings so as to satisfy legal obligations associated with the retirement (through sale, abandonment, recycling, or disposal in some other manner) of a tangible long-lived asset that result from the acquisition, construction, or development and (or) the normal operation of a long-lived asset. This accounting policy disclosure excludes obligations arising 1) in connection with leased property, whether imposed by a lease agreement or by a party other than the lessor, that meet the definition of either minimum lease payments or contingent rentals; 2) solely from a plan to sell or otherwise dispose of a long-lived asset and 3) from certain environmental remediation liabilities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for recognition of costs in the period which correspond to the sales and revenue categories presented in the statement of operations. The accounting policy may include the amount and nature of costs incurred, provisions associated with inventories, purchase discounts, freight and other costs included in cost of sales incurred and recorded in the period. This disclosure also includes the nature of costs of sales incurred and recorded in the statement of operations for the period relating to transactions with related parties. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for deferral and amortization of significant deferred charges. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for determining the fair value of financial instruments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for goodwill. This accounting policy also may address how an entity assesses and measures impairment of goodwill, how reporting units are determined, how goodwill is allocated to such units, and how the fair values of the reporting units are determined. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for intangible assets. This accounting policy may address both intangible assets subject to amortization and those that are not. The following also may be disclosed: (1) a description of intangible assets (2) the estimated useful lives of those assets (3) the amortization method used (4) how the entity assesses and measures impairment of such assets (5) how future cash flows are estimated (6) how the fair values of such asset are determined. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for leasing arrangements (both lessor and lessee). This disclosure may address (1) lease classification (that is, operating versus capital), (2) how the term of a lease is determined (for example, the circumstances in which a renewal option is considered part of the lease term), (3) how rental revenue or expense is recognized for a lease that contains rent escalations, (4) an entity's accounting treatment for deferred rent, including that which arises from lease incentives, rent abatements, rent holidays, or tenant allowances (5) an entity's accounting treatment for contingent rental payments and (6) an entity's policy for reviewing, at least annually, the residual values of sales-type and direct-finance leases. The disclosure also may indicate how the entity accounts for its capital leases, leveraged leases or sale-leaseback transactions. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy pertaining to new accounting pronouncements that may impact the entity's financial reporting. Includes, but is not limited to, quantification of the expected or actual impact. No definition available.
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, basis of assets, depreciation and depletion methods used, including composite deprecation, estimated useful lives, capitalization policy, accounting treatment for costs incurred for repairs and maintenance, capitalized interest and the method it is calculated, disposals and impairments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for segment reporting. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for trade and other accounts receivables. This disclosure may include the basis at which such receivables are carried in the entity's statements of financial position (for example, net realizable value), how the entity determines the level of its allowance for doubtful accounts, when impairments, charge-offs or recoveries are recognized, and the entity's income recognition policies for such receivables, including its treatment of related fees and costs, its treatment of premiums, discounts or unearned income, when accrual of interest is discontinued, how the entity records payments received on nonaccrual receivables and its policy for resuming accrual of interest on such receivables. If the enterprise holds a large number of similar loans, disclosure may include the accounting policy for the anticipation of prepayments and significant assumptions underlying prepayment estimates for amortization of premiums, discounts, and nonrefundable fees and costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Property and Equipment (Tables) |
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| Major Classes of Property and Equipment | The major classes of property and equipment are as follows:
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- References No definition available.
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Includes, but is not limited to, balances by class of assets, depreciation and depletion expense and method used, including composite depreciation, and accumulated deprecation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Intangible Assets and Above-market Leases (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible Assets | The following is a summary of the Company's intangible assets.
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| Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense | Amortization expense related to intangible assets is classified as follows on the Company's consolidated statement of operations:
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| Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense | The estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible assets (inclusive of those recorded as an increase to "site rental costs of operations") for the years ended December 31, 2017 to 2021 is as follows:
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| Above Market Leases [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intangible Assets | The following is a summary of the Company's above-market leases.
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| Schedule of Estimated Annual Amortization Expense | The estimated annual amortization expense related to above-market leases for land interests under the Company's towers for the years ended December 31, 2017 to 2021 is as follows:
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life, by either major class or business segment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the amount of amortization expense expected to be recorded in succeeding fiscal years for finite-lived intangible assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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Debt and Other Obligations (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt | Contractual Maturities The following are the scheduled contractual maturities of total debt outstanding at December 31, 2016.
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| Schedule of Extinguishment of Debt | The following is a summary of the purchases and redemptions of debt during the year ended December 31, 2016.
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| Schedule Of Interest Expense And Amortization Of Deferred Financing Costs [Text Block] | The components of "interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs" are as follows:
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract} No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Schedule of interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of debt extinguished which may include, amount of gain (loss), the income tax effect and the per share amount of the aggregate gain (loss), net of the related income tax. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the combined aggregate amount of maturities and sinking fund requirements for all long-term borrowings for each of the five years following the date of the latest balance sheet date presented. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Fair Value Disclosures (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Disclosures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated Fair Values and Carrying Amounts of Assets and Liabilities | The following table shows the estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments, along with the carrying amounts of the related assets and liabilities. See also note 2.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Fair Value Disclosures No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments, including financial assets and financial liabilities, and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Leases (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leases [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenant Leases | The following table is a summary of the rental cash payments owed to the Company, as a lessor, by tenants pursuant to contractual agreements in effect as of December 31, 2016. Generally, the Company's leases with its tenants provide for (1) annual escalations, (2) multiple renewal periods at the tenant's option, and (3) only limited termination rights at the applicable tenant's option through the current term. As of December 31, 2016, the weighted-average remaining term (calculated by weighting the remaining term for each lease by the related site rental revenue) of tenant leases is approximately six years, exclusive of renewals at the tenant's option. The tenants' rental payments included in the table below are through the current terms with a maximum current term of 20 years and do not assume exercise of tenant renewal options.
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| Operating Leases | The following table is a summary of rental cash payments owed by the Company, as lessee, to landlords pursuant to contractual agreements in effect as of December 31, 2016. The Company is obligated under non-cancelable operating leases for land interests under approximately 90% of its sites. The majority of these lease agreements have (1) certain termination rights that provide for cancellation after a notice period, (2) multiple renewal options at the Company's option, and (3) annual escalations. Lease agreements may also contain provisions for a contingent payment based on revenues or the gross margin derived from the tower located on the leased land interest. Approximately 90% and approximately 50% of the Company's site rental gross margins for the year ended December 31, 2016 are derived from towers where the land interest under the tower is owned or leased with final expiration dates of greater than ten and 20 years, respectively, including renewals at the Company's option. The operating lease payments included in the table below include payments for certain renewal periods at the Company's option up to the estimated tower useful life of 20 years and an estimate of contingent payments based on revenues and gross margins derived from existing tenant leases. See also note 6.
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of future minimum payments required in the aggregate and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years for operating leases having initial or remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year and the total minimum rentals to be received in the future under noncancelable subleases as of the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of rental expense from operating leases for each period for which an income statement is presented with separate amounts for minimum rentals, contingent rentals, and sublease rentals. Rental payments under leases with terms of a month or less that were not renewed need not be included. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Concentration of Credit Risk (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Summary of the Percentage of the Consolidated Revenues for Those Customers Accounting for More than 10% of the Consolidated Revenues | The following table summarizes the percentage of the Company's revenues for those tenants accounting for more than 10% of the Company's revenues.
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of the extent of the entity's reliance on its major customers, if revenues from transactions with a single external customer amount to 10 percent or more of entity revenues, including the disclosure of that fact, the total amount of revenues from each such customer, and the identity of the reportable segment or segments reporting the revenues. The entity need not disclose the identity of a major customer or the amount of revenues that each segment reports from that customer. For these purposes, a group of companies known to the entity to be under common control is considered a single customer, and the federal government, a state government, a local government such as a county or municipality, or a foreign government is each considered a single customer. No definition available.
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Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information and Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities | The following table is a summary of the supplemental cash flow information during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tabular disclosure of supplemental cash flow information for the periods presented. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
|
Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation Disclosure [Text Block] |
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The entire disclosure of real estate investments and associated accumulated depreciation for entities with a significant portion of their business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Tables) |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves |
|
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Table Text Block] No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
|
Basis of Presentation (Details) $ in Billions |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
|
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
| |
| Tower Count | 7,700 |
| Leased or Operated Under Master Lease Agreements [Member] | |
| Tower count as a percentage of total towers | 68.00% |
| Ground Lease Agreement Initial Term | 32 years |
| Purchase Option Price | $ 2.3 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This disclosure represents the term of the Company’s ground lease agreements No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This element relates to the total future purchase option price. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Represents the Company's tower count. Inclusive of towers and other structures, such as rooftops No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tower count as a percentage of total towers No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
|
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Current Liability for Accrued Property Taxes | $ 5,800 | $ 5,600 | |
| Deferred Finance Costs, Net | 12,900 | ||
| Asset write-down charges | $ 4,851 | 6,021 | $ 3,598 |
| Property management fee, percent fee | 7.50% | ||
| Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member] | |||
| Property, plant and equipment estimated useful life, maximum (years) | 20 years | ||
| Minimum [Member] | |||
| Revenue Recognition Non-cancelable Lease Term Range, Minimum | 5 years | ||
| Maximum [Member] | |||
| Revenue Recognition Non-cancelable Lease Term Range, Minimum | 15 years | ||
| Tower Write-Down Charges [Member] | |||
| Asset write-down charges | $ 4,900 | $ 5,400 | $ 2,900 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Current Liability for Accrued Property Taxes No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Rent Revenue, Lease Term No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The percentage charged for managing real estate properties. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Accumulated Depreciation on Capital Lease Assets No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation of leased physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, from reclassification, impairment, donation, or changes classified as other. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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Intangible Assets and Above-market Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | $ 2,153,600 | $ 2,153,020 | |
| Amortization of Intangible Assets | 115,298 | 115,358 | $ 115,466 |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 1,115,593 | 1,000,666 | |
| Other Intangible Assets, net | 21,807 | 23,932 | |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net | 1,038,007 | 1,152,354 | |
| Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Amortization of Intangible Assets | 113,621 | 113,570 | 113,570 |
| Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months | 115,255 | ||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two | 115,233 | ||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three | 115,204 | ||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four | 115,168 | ||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five | 115,052 | ||
| Amortization of Intangible Assets | 1,677 | 1,788 | 1,896 |
| Above Market Leases [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 41,538 | 42,743 | |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 21,544 | 20,536 | |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net | 19,994 | 22,207 | |
| Above Market Leases [Member] | Site Rental Costs of Operations [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Amortization of Above Market Leases | 1,800 | 1,900 | $ 2,000 |
| Site Rental Contracts and Customer Relationships [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 2,102,005 | 2,100,708 | |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 1,085,805 | 972,286 | |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net | 1,016,200 | 1,128,422 | |
| Other Intangible Assets [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross | 51,595 | 52,312 | |
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization | 29,788 | 28,380 | |
| Other Intangible Assets, net | 21,807 | $ 23,932 | |
| Amortization expense, 2017 [Member] | Above Market Leases [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Expected Above-Market Lease Amortization Expense | 1,730 | ||
| Amortization expense, 2018 [Member] | Above Market Leases [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Expected Above-Market Lease Amortization Expense | 1,726 | ||
| Amortization expense, 2019 [Member] | Above Market Leases [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Expected Above-Market Lease Amortization Expense | 1,702 | ||
| Amortization expense, 2020 [Member] [Domain] | Above Market Leases [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Expected Above-Market Lease Amortization Expense | 1,673 | ||
| Amortization expense, 2021 [Member] | Above Market Leases [Member] | |||
| Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||
| Expected Above-Market Lease Amortization Expense | $ 1,524 | ||
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amortization expense for the current year related to the Company’s above-market leases recorded in site rental costs of operations No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Expected amortization expense related to the Company’s above-market leases recorded in site rental costs of operations No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of amortization expense for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount after accumulated amortization of finite-lived and indefinite-lived intangible assets classified as other. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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| X | ||||||||||
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Debt and Other Obligations (Indebtedness) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||
| Total debt and other obligations | $ 991,279 | $ 1,487,055 |
| Non-current portion of long-term debt and other long-term obligations | $ 991,279 | $ 1,487,055 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt and capital lease obligation due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
Debt and Other Obligations (Textuals) (Details) |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
|
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
|
|
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||
| Write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts | $ 1,800,000 | ||
| Total debt and other obligations | 991,279,000 | $ 1,487,055,000 | |
| 2012 Secured Notes [Member] | |||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||
| Total debt and other obligations | 1,500,000,000 | ||
| 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Domain] | |||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||
| Total debt and other obligations | $ 700,000,000 | ||
| Stated interest rate | 2.25% | ||
| High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2012 Secured Notes [Member] | |||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||
| Stated interest rate | 2.381% | ||
| Debt covenant, trade payable restriction of equipment, land or other property, amount | $ 100,000,000.0 | ||
| Debt covenant, debt to adjusted consolidated cash flow | 3.5 | ||
| Debt to adjusted cash flow ratio | 2.7 | ||
| 2012 secured notes tranche A [Member] | 2012 Secured Notes [Member] | |||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||
| Total debt and other obligations | $ 500,000,000 | ||
| Stated interest rate | 2.381% | ||
| 2012 secured notes tranche B [Member] | 2012 Secured Notes [Member] | |||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |||
| Total debt and other obligations | $ 1,000,000,000 | ||
| Stated interest rate | 3.849% |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Debt Covenant, Debt to Adjusted Consolidated Cash Flow No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Debt Covenant, Trade Payable Restriction Of Equipment, Land or Other Property, Amount No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Debt to Adjusted Cash Flow Ratio No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
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Debt and Other Obligations (Scheduled Contractual Maturities) (Details) $ in Thousands |
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
|
|---|---|
| Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract] | |
| 2017 | $ 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| Thereafter | 1,000,000 |
| Total Cash Obligations | 1,000,000 |
| Total Debt Outstanding | 991,279 |
| Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | $ (8,721) |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract} No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt discount. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirements, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable prices and dates maturing in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
Debt and Other Obligations (Debt Purchases and Repayments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
| Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations | $ 10,273 | $ 0 | $ 0 | |||||
| Write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts | 1,800 | |||||||
| 2012 secured notes tranche A [Member] | ||||||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
| Principal amount | 500,000 | |||||||
| Cash Paid | [1] | 508,472 | ||||||
| Gains (losses) on retirement of long-term obligations | [2] | $ (10,273) | ||||||
| ||||||||
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Write-off of deferred financing costs and discounts. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Gross amount of debt extinguished. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash outflow for the payment of debt classified as other, maturing after one year or the operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Details
|
Debt and Other Obligations Debt and Other Obligations (Interest Expense and Amortization of Deferred Financing Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract] | |||
| Interest expense on debt obligations | $ 47,088 | $ 50,395 | $ 50,395 |
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | 2,427 | 2,828 | 2,828 |
| Total | $ 49,515 | $ 53,223 | $ 53,223 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract} No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cost of borrowed funds and the amortization of interest rate swaps accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of amortization expense attributable to debt issuance costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Property management fee, percent fee | 7.50% | ||||
| Management Fee | $ 45,433 | $ 43,709 | $ 42,686 | ||
| Direct Costs of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment, Related Party | [1] | 33,901 | 31,859 | 30,248 | |
| Rent Revenue of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment, Related Party | 1,000 | 900 | 600 | ||
| Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates | $ (280,494) | (231,600) | (204,324) | ||
| High Yield Bonds [Member] | 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes [Domain] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 2.381% | ||||
| Affiliated Entity [Member] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction, Percentage of Towers Where Land is Owned by Related Party | 25.00% | ||||
| Equity contribution related to debt repayment [Member] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates | $ 508,472 | ||||
| Members' Capital [Member] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates | (97,165) | $ 0 | $ 0 | ||
| Members' Capital [Member] | Equity contribution related to debt repayment [Member] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates | 508,472 | ||||
| Members' Capital [Member] | Net Equity contribution from parent [Member] | |||||
| Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | |||||
| Increase (Decrease) Due from Affiliates | $ 228,000 | ||||
| |||||
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Costs incurred with related parties that are directly related to generating revenues from leased and rented property or equipment. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of expenses charged by affiliate related to the management services to maintain, market, operate, manage and administer the towers. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Related Party Transaction, Percentage of Towers Where Land is Owned by Related Party No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Rent Revenue of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment, Related Party No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in receivables to be collected from an entity that is controlling, under the control of, or within the same control group as the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The percentage charged for managing real estate properties. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
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Fair Value Disclosures (Estimated Fair Values and Carrying Amounts of Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, carrying value | $ 19,550 | $ 20,401 | $ 26,231 | $ 31,036 |
| Long-term debt and other obligations, carrying amount | 991,279 | 1,487,055 | ||
| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | ||||
| Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, carrying value | 1 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents, fair value | 19,550 | 20,401 | ||
| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | ||||
| Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items] | ||||
| Long-term debt and other obligations, carrying amount | 2 | |||
| Long-term debt and other obligations, fair value | $ 1,013,300 | $ 1,486,600 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the fair values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
|
Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions |
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
|
|---|---|
| Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate | $ 1.0 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
Income Taxes (Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Income Taxes [Abstract] | |||
| Total benefit (provision) for income taxes | $ (668) | $ (733) | $ 402 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Income Taxes [Abstract] No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Income Taxes (Effective Tax Rate) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Income Taxes [Abstract] | |||
| Total benefit (provision) for income taxes | $ (668) | $ (733) | $ 402 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Income Taxes [Abstract] No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Accretion expense related to liabilities for contingent retirement obligations | $ 2.3 | $ 2.1 | $ 2.0 |
| Asset retirement obligation | 28.5 | $ 26.8 | |
| Asset retirement obligation future outlay | $ 132.0 | ||
| Leased or Operated Under Master Lease Agreements [Member] | |||
| Tower count as a percentage of total towers | 68.00% | ||
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This disclosure represents the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to be paid relating to asset retirement obligations No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Tower count as a percentage of total towers No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items] | |||
| Weighted average remaining term of tenant leases | 6 years | ||
| Maximum Current Term | 20 years | ||
| Tenant Leases 2017 | $ 607,972 | ||
| Tenant Leases 2018 | 597,197 | ||
| Tenant Leases 2019 | 584,854 | ||
| Tenant Leases 2020 | 575,331 | ||
| Tenant Leases 2021 | 554,305 | ||
| Tenant Leases thereafter | 985,000 | ||
| Total tenant leases | $ 3,904,659 | ||
| Percentage of wireless infrastructure, office space and equipment that is on land that has non-cancelable operating leases | 90.00% | ||
| Operating leases, owned land under tower, expiration term | 10 years | ||
| Operating leases, leased land under tower, expiration term | 20 years | ||
| Operating leases 2017 | $ 134,996 | ||
| Operating leases 2018 | 136,638 | ||
| Operating leases 2019 | 138,064 | ||
| Operating leases 2020 | 139,084 | ||
| Operating leases 2021 | 138,469 | ||
| Operating leases thereafter | 1,732,600 | ||
| Total operating leases | 2,419,851 | ||
| Rental expense from operating leases | 144,600 | $ 142,900 | $ 141,600 |
| Contingent rental payments | $ 29,000 | $ 28,000 | $ 28,700 |
| Greater than 10 Years, Inclusive of Renewals at the Company's Option [Member] | |||
| Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items] | |||
| Percentage of site rental gross margin that is derived from wireless infrastructure where the lease for the land has a final expiration date | 90.00% | ||
| Greater than 20 Years, Inclusive of Renewals at the Company's Option [Member] | |||
| Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items] | |||
| Percentage of site rental gross margin that is derived from wireless infrastructure where the lease for the land has a final expiration date | 50.00% | ||
| Wireless Infrastructure [Member] | |||
| Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items] | |||
| Estimated useful life, maximum, in years | 20 years | ||
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Maximum current term of tenant contracts, excluding the exercise of tenant renewal options. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Maximum current lease expiration term, in years, of operating leases for tower under which the company owns land. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Rental expense incurred for leased assets. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Operating Leases, Leased Land Under Tower, Expiration Term No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Percentage of site rental gross margin that is derived from towers where the lease for the land has a final expiration date. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The percentage of towers, office space and equipment that is on land that has non-cancelable operating leases. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Weighted-average remaining term of tenant leases, exclusive of renewals at the tenant's option No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of required minimum rental payments for operating leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future minimum rental payments in aggregate as of the balance sheet date under operating leases. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future rental payments receivable within one year of the balance sheet date under an operating lease. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future rental payments receivable within the fifth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future rental payments receivable within the fourth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future rental payments receivable within the third year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future rental payments receivable within the second year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Future minimum lease payments receivable under operating leases for periods greater than five years following the balance sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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Concentration of Credit Risk (Major Customers) (Details) |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Percentage of the consolidated revenues | 89.00% | 89.00% | 88.00% |
| Sprint [Member] | |||
| Percentage of the consolidated revenues | 38.00% | 38.00% | 41.00% |
| AT&T [Member] | |||
| Percentage of the consolidated revenues | 20.00% | 21.00% | 20.00% |
| T-Mobile [Member] | |||
| Percentage of the consolidated revenues | 18.00% | 18.00% | 17.00% |
| Verizon Wireless [Member] | |||
| Percentage of the consolidated revenues | 13.00% | 12.00% | 10.00% |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
- Details
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Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
|
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | |||
| Interest paid | $ 47,617 | $ 50,395 | $ 50,395 |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The amount of cash paid for interest during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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Schedule III - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items] | ||||||
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross | $ 1,917,553 | $ 1,875,940 | [1] | $ 1,800,836 | ||
| Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment | (828,670) | (740,236) | [1] | $ (652,947) | ||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation, Amount of Encumbrances | 991,279 | |||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation | (828,670) | (740,236) | ||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Gross | 1,917,553 | 1,875,940 | ||||
| Wireless Infrastructure Construction | 43,721 | 76,064 | ||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Improvements | 9,688 | 9,152 | ||||
| Real Estate Period Additions to Cost | 53,409 | 85,216 | ||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Cost of Real Estate Sold | (11,796) | (10,112) | ||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation, Depreciation Expense | (93,455) | (92,165) | ||||
| SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Accumulated Depreciation, Real Estate Sold | 5,021 | 4,876 | ||||
| Real Estate Period Deductions to Accumulated Depreciation | $ 5,021 | $ 4,876 | ||||
| ||||||
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition SEC Schedule III - Total Real Estate Period Additions to Cost No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition SEC Schedule III - Real Estate Period Deductions to Accumulated Depreciation No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition SEC Schedule III, Real Estate Additions - Wireless Infrastructure Construction No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of accumulated depreciation pertaining to real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of decrease to accumulated depreciation for real estate investments sold for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of lien or mortgage outstanding on real estate investment properties for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of real estate investments sold for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount, before accumulated depreciation, of real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase in real estate investments related to improvements for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of depreciation expense of real estate investments for entities with a substantial portion of business acquiring and holding investment real estate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
12 Months Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
|
| Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] | ||||
| Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance | $ 1,810 | $ 882 | $ 1,099 | $ 1,376 |
| Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense | 1,697 | 284 | 295 | |
| Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Recoveries | $ 769 | $ 501 | $ 572 | |
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase in the allowances and reserves, which consist of the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, from charges to costs and expenses. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Total of the deductions in a given period to allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing receivables written off as uncollectible and portions of the reserves utilized, respectively. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase in the allowances and reserves, which consist of the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, from recoveries of amounts previously written off or reestablishment of reserves that had previously been utilized. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. No definition available.
|
| X | ||||||||||
- Details
|