Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Assets (AssetsAbstract) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Restricted cash (RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue) Restricted cash Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,935 and $6,267, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Deferred site rental receivables, net (DeferredRentAssetNetCurrent) Deferred site rental receivables, net Prepaid expenses Prepaid Expense, Current, Total Deferred income tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Other Assets, Current Other current assets Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Restricted cash (RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent) Restricted cash Deferred site rental receivables, net (DeferredRentReceivablesNetNoncurrent) Deferred Rent Receivables, Net, Noncurrent, Total Deferred site rental receivables, net Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Other intangible assets, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Deferred financing costs and other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $40,096 and $46,392, respectively Deferred financing costs and other assets, net Assets (Assets) Total assets Assets Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accured interest Deferred revenues Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Interest rate swaps (DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent) Interest rate swaps Other accrued liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Debt, Current Short-term debt, current maturities of debt and other obligations Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Debt and other long-term obligations Debt and other long-term obligations Deferred ground lease payables Deferred income tax liabilities Interest rate swaps (DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent) Interest rate swaps Other liabilities Other liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities 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. This caption alerts the reader that one or more notes to the financial statements disclose pertinent information about the entity's commitments and contingencies. Commitments and contingencies (note 11) Redeemable preferred stock, $0.1 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding: September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008--6,361,000; stated net of unamortized issue costs; mandatory redemption and aggregate liquidation value of $318,050 CCIC stockholders' equity: Common stock, $.01 par value; 600,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding: September 30, 2009--291,179,312 and December 31, 2008--288,464,431 Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Total Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Accumulated deficit Total CCIC stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total CCIC stockholders' equity Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Total equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liablities and equity Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract] Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, current Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Temporary Equity Par Stated Value Per Share Par value. redeemable preferred stock Shares authorized, redeemable preferred stock Shares issued, redeemable preferred stock Shares outstanding, redeemable preferred stock Temporary Equity Liquidation Preference Mandatory redemption and aggregate liquidation value, redeemable preferred stock Par value, common stock Shares authorized, common stock Shares issued, common stock Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Shares outstanding, common stock Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Income Statement [Abstract] Net revenues: Site rental Operating Leases, Income Statement, Lease Revenue, Total Network services and other Network services and other Sales Revenue, Net Net revenues Operating expenses: Costs of operations: Costs of operations: Site rental (1) Network services and other (1) Network services and other General and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Asset write-down charges Asset write-down charges Acquisition and integration costs Acquisition and integration costs Depreciation, amortization and accretion Depreciation, amortization and accretion Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating income (loss) Operating income (loss) Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs Impairment of available-for-sale securities Impairment of available-for-sale securities Gains (losses) on purchases and redemptions of debt (Gains) losses on purchases and redemptions of long-term debt Gains (losses) on purchases and redemptions of debt Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps Net gain (loss) on interest rate swaps Interest and other income (expense) Interest and other income (expense) Income (loss) before income taxes Income (loss) before income taxes Benefit (provision) for income taxes Benefit (provision) for income taxes Benefit (provision) for income taxes Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders (NetIncomeLoss) Net income (loss) Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders Dividends on preferred stock (PreferredStockDividends) Dividends on preferred stock Dividends on preferred stock Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders after deduction of dividends on preferred stock Other comprehensive income (loss): Available-for-sale securities, net of tax: Available-for-sale securities, net of tax: Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively Amounts reclassified into results of operations, net of taxes of $0, $0, $0, and $0, respectively Derivative instruments: Derivative instruments: Net change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments, net of taxes of $(19,720), $21,528, $66,719 and $20,545, respectively Amounts reclassified into results of operations, net of taxes of $264, $1,010, $793 and $1,949, respectively Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income (loss) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period - basic and diluted. Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC common stockholders, after deduction of dividends on preferred stock, per common share - basic and diluted The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period - basic and diluted. Weighted-average common shares outstanding --basic and diluted (in thousands) Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic [Abstract] Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (Loss) before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] Income (Loss) before Extraordinary Items and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Income Loss from Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders (IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations) Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders Net income (loss) attributable to CCIC stockholders Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Parentheticals Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Parentheticals Tax effect of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities Tax effect of amounts reclassified into results of operations for available-for-sale securities Tax effect of net change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments Taxes resulting from amounts reclassified into results of operations Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: Amortization of deferred financing costs and other non-cash interest Amortization of deferred financing costs and other non-cash interest Stock-based compensation expense Share-based Compensation, Total Deferred income tax benefit (provision) Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Income (expense) from forward-starting interest rate swaps Income (expense) from forward-starting interest rate swaps Other adjustments Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquistions: Increase (decrease) in accrued interest Increase (decrease) in accounts payable The net change in assets during the reporting period not separately disclosed in cash flows statement due to materiality considerations. Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues, deferred ground lease payables, other accrued liablilites and other liabilities Decrease (increase) in receivables Decrease (increase) in receivables Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses, deferred site rental receivables and other assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets, Total Payment for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) of businesses Payment for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) of businesses Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Proceeds from issuance of capital stock Proceeds from issuance of capital stock Principal payments on long-term debt Principal payments on long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Purchases and redemptions of long-term debt Purchases and redemptions of long-term debt Purchases of capital stock Purchases of capital stock Borrowings under revolving credit agreements Proceeds from Lines of Credit, Total Payments under revolving credit agreements Payments under revolving credit agreements Payments for financing costs Payments for financing costs Payments of Financing Costs, Total Net (increase) decrease in restricted cash Dividends on preferred stock (PaymentsOfDividendsPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock) Dividends on preferred stock Dividends on preferred stock Dividends on preferred stock Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents General [Abstract] General [Abstract] General Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies New Accounting Prononcements New Accounting Prononcements [Abstract] New Accounting Prononcements Property and Equipment [Abstract] Property and Equipment [Abstract] Property and Equipment Intangible Assets Intangible Assets [Abstract] Intangible Assets Debt and Other Obligations Debt and Other Obligations [Abstract] Debt and Other Obligations Interest Rate Swaps Interest Rate Swaps [Abstract] Interest Rate Swaps Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Fair Value Disclosures Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Disclosures Per Share Information Per Share Information [Abstract] This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's earnings per share. This element may also be sued to capture the complete disclosure for securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts for the period presented, by Antidilutive Securities. Per Share Information Disclosure Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Operating Segments Operating Segments [Abstract] Operating Segments Stock-based Compensation Stock-based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-based Compensation Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Cash Flow Information Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Events Document Information [Text Block] Document Information [Table] Document Information [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Entity [Text Block] Entities [Table] Entity Information [Line Items] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding