SBA Communications (SBAC) 10-Q 10 May 16 2016 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Apr. 26, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	SBA COMMUNICATIONS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	1,034,054
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		125,524,099
Trading Symbol	SBAC

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 103,266	$ 118,039
Restricted cash	25,138	25,353
Short-term investments	708	706
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,235 and $1,681 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	87,580	83,326
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	12,683	16,934
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	53,177	49,602
Total current assets	282,552	293,960
Property and equipment, net	2,802,662	2,782,353
Intangible assets, net	3,764,036	3,735,413
Other assets	522,394	501,254
Total assets	7,371,644	7,312,980
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	20,716	27,105
Accrued expenses	56,657	63,755
Current maturities of long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Deferred revenue	87,283	97,083
Accrued interest	38,813	53,365
Other current liabilities	9,600	12,063
Total current liabilities	233,069	273,371
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net	8,452,270	8,432,070
Other long-term liabilities	316,865	313,683
Total long-term liabilities	$ 8,769,135	$ 8,745,753
Shareholders' deficit:
Preferred stock - par value $.01, 30,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock - Class A, par value $.01, 400,000 shares authorized, 125,512 and 125,743 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	$ 1,255	$ 1,257
Additional paid-in capital	1,973,974	1,962,713
Accumulated deficit	(3,164,437)	(3,168,069)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(441,352)	(502,045)
Total shareholders' deficit	(1,630,560)	(1,706,144)
Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit	$ 7,371,644	$ 7,312,980

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts receivable, allowance	$ 2,235	$ 1,681
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common Stock [Member]
Common stock - Class A, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock - Class A, shares authorized	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock - Class A, shares issued	125,512,000	125,743,000
Common stock - Class A, shares outstanding	125,512,000	125,743,000

Consolidated Statements Of Oper

Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Site leasing		$ 374,450	$ 369,727
Site development		25,319	40,367
Total revenues		399,769	410,094
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing		82,762	80,217
Cost of site development		19,833	30,893
Selling, general, and administrative	[1]	30,406	29,884
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		3,182	1,339
Asset impairment and decommission costs		6,183	6,822
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		159,801	171,853
Total operating expenses		302,167	321,008
Operating income		97,602	89,086
Other income (expense):
Interest income		1,866	293
Interest expense		(83,804)	(77,654)
Non-cash interest expense		(455)	(280)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(5,265)	(4,544)
Other income (expense), net		45,900	(82,968)
Total other expense		(41,758)	(165,153)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes		55,844	(76,067)
Provision for income taxes		(2,205)	(2,963)
Net income (loss)		$ 53,639	$ (79,030)
Net income (loss) per common share
Basic		$ 0.43	$ (0.61)
Diluted		$ 0.43	$ (0.61)
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic		125,398	129,235
Diluted		126,124	129,235
[1]	Includes non-cash compensation of $7,686 and $6,884 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Consolidated Statements Of Ope5

Consolidated Statements Of Operations (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Non-cash compensation expense	$ 7,785	$ 6,988
Selling, General And Administrative [Member]
Non-cash compensation expense	$ 7,686	$ 6,884

Consolidated Statements Of Comp

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 53,639	$ (79,030)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	60,693	(174,450)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 114,332	$ (253,480)

Consolidated Statement Of Share

Consolidated Statement Of Shareholders' Deficit - 3 months ended Mar. 31, 2016 - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]Shares - Warrant [Member]Class A Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]Class A Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]Shares - Warrant [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]Shares - Warrant [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]Shares - Warrant [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Shares - Warrant [Member]	Total
BALANCE, Amount at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 1,257		$ 1,962,713		$ (3,168,069)		$ (502,045)		$ (1,706,144)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015		125,743
Net income						53,639				53,639
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans		$ 3		3,328						3,331
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, Shares		276
Non-cash compensation				7,933						7,933
Settlement of convertible note hedges and common stock warrants, Amount
Settlement of convertible note hedges and common stock warrants, Shares
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Amount		$ (5)				(50,007)				(50,012)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares		(507)
Foreign currency translation adjustments								60,693		60,693
BALANCE, Amount at Mar. 31, 2016		$ 1,255		$ 1,973,974		$ (3,164,437)		$ (441,352)		$ (1,630,560)
BALANCE, Shares at Mar. 31, 2016		125,512

Consolidated Statements Of Cash

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 53,639	$ (79,030)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization	159,801	171,853
Non-cash interest expense	455	280
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(277)	557
Non-cash asset impairment and decommission costs	4,196	5,027
Non-cash compensation expense	7,785	6,988
Amortization of deferred financing fees	5,265	4,544
(Gain) loss on remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loan	(44,765)	83,995
Other non-cash items reflected in the Statements of Operations	(309)	(1,531)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net	90	4,445
Prepaid and other assets	(12,036)	(6,286)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(8,277)	3,834
Accrued interest	(14,552)	(15,212)
Other liabilities	(6,151)	(1,056)
Net cash provided by operating activities	144,864	178,408
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(91,832)	(53,279)
Capital expenditures	(36,060)	(68,100)
Other investing activities	(4,447)	(175)
Net cash used in investing activities	(132,339)	(121,554)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility	70,000	135,000
Repayments under Revolving Credit Facility	(50,000)	(25,000)
Repayment of Term Loans	(5,000)	(7,500)
Payments for settlement of common stock warrants		(135,236)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, inclusive of fees	(50,012)
Other financing activities	1,689	1,207
Net cash used in financing activities	(33,323)	(31,529)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	6,025	(2,397)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(14,773)	22,928
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
Beginning of year	118,039	39,443
End of year	103,266	62,371
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	98,434	92,911
Income taxes	2,359	1,514
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:
Assets acquired through capital leases	$ 273	$ 1,464

Basis Of Presentation

Basis Of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year. The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company believes that such estimates are fair when considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, the actual amounts, when known, may vary from these estimates. Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency for the Company’s Central American subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries which are not denominated in U.S. dollars are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Unrealized translation gains and losses are reported as Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit. Intercompany Loans In accordance with ASC 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded a $44.8 million gain and an $84.0 million loss on the remeasurement of intercompany loans, respectively. New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted In April 2015, the Financial Acco unting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest. The standard requires debt issuance costs to be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 effective January 1, 2016 and reclassified $90.2 million from deferred financing fees, net to long-term debt in the December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest - Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. The standard indicates the SEC staff would not object to presenting deferred debt issuance costs for a line of credit arrangement as an asset in the balance sheet. The Company adopted ASU 2015-15 effective January 1, 2016 and has elected to continue to present deferred debt issuance costs for its Revolving Credit Facility as an asset on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16 Business Combinations. The standard requires that the acquirer (1) recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined, (2) record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date, and (3) to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The Company adopted ASU 2015-16 effective January 1, 2016. The financial statement impact of adopting this standard was not material for all periods presented. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which the Company adopted as of January 1, 2016. The standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for shared-based payment transactions including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements, classification of awards as either equity or a liability, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The financial statement impact of adopting this standard was not material for all periods presented. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the FASB released an updated standard regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers, exclusive of those contracts within lease accounting. The core principle of the standard 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. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2017 for public companies. Under the proposal, the standard would be required to be adopted by public business entities in annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted but not before interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. This standard is required to be applied (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) with the cumulative effect being recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is evaluating the standard and does not expect a material financial statement impact upon adoption. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The standard amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. This standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the standard including the impact on its consolidated financial statements. 

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	2. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis — The Company’s earnout liabilities related to acquisitions are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs and are recorded in Accrued expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in estimate are recorded in Acquisition related adjustments and expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company determines the fair value of acquisition-related earnouts (contingent consideration) and any subsequent changes in fair value using a discounted probability-weighted approach using Level 3 inputs. Level 3 valuations rely on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The fair value of the earnouts is reviewed quarterly and is based on the payments the Company expects to make based on historical internal observations related to the anticipated performance of the underlying assets. The Company’s estimate of the fair value of its obligation contained in various acquisitions was $5.0 million and $7.2 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively. The maximum potential obligation related to the performance targets was $7.4 million and $10.2 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively. The following summarizes the activity of the accrued earnouts:     For the three months ended March 31,  2016 2015   (in thousands)  Beginning balance $ 7,230 $ 15,086  Additions 173 1,372  Payments (1,360) (1,234)  Change in estimate (1,023) (1,552)  Foreign currency translation adjustments 4 (319)  Ending balance $ 5,024 $ 13,353  Items Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis — The Company’s long-lived assets, intangibles, and asset retirement obligations are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis using Level 3 inputs. The Company considers many factors and makes certain assumptions when making this assessment, including but not limited to: general market and economic conditions, historical operating results, geographic location, lease-up potential and expected timing of lease-up. The fair value of the long-lived assets, intangibles, and asset retirement obligations is calculated using a discounted cash flow model. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company recognized impairment charge s of $6.2 million which include the write off of $4.2 million in carrying value of decommissioned towers and $2.0 million of other third party decommission costs . During the three months ended March 31, 2015 , the Company recognized impairment charges of $6.8 million which include the write off of $3.9 million in carrying value of decommissioned towers and $1.8 million of other third party decommission costs . In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 , the impairment charge includes $1.1 million in disposal costs related to the Company’s former corporate headquarters building. Asset impairment and decommission costs for all periods presented and the related impaired assets relate to the Company’s site leasing operating segment. Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, and short-term investments approximate their estimated fair values due to the short maturity of these instruments. Short-term investments consisted of $0.5 million in certificate of deposits as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , and $0.2 million in Treasury securities as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 . The Company’s estimate of the fair value of its held-to-maturity investments in treasury and corporate bonds, including current portion, are based primarily upon Level 1 reported market values. As of March 31, 2016 , the carrying value and fair value of the held-to-maturity investments, including current portion, were $0.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 , the carrying value and fair value of the held-to-maturity investments, including current portion, were $0.8 million and $0.9 million , respectively. These amounts are recorded in Other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company determines fair value of its debt instruments utilizing various Level 2 sources including quoted prices and indicative quotes (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. The fair value of the Revolving Credit Facility is considered to approximate the carrying value because the interest payments are based on Eurodollar rates that reset every month. The Company does not believe its credit risk has changed materially from the date the applicable Eurodollar Rate plus 137.5 to 200.0 basis points was set for the Revolving Credit Facility. Refer to Note 10 for the fair values, principal balances, and carrying values of the Company’s debt instruments.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Restricted Cash	3. RESTRICTED CASH Restricted cash consists of the following:     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Included on Balance Sheet   (in thousands)  Securitization escrow accounts $ 24,910 $ 25,135 Restricted cash - current asset  Payment and performance bonds 228 218 Restricted cash - current asset  Surety bonds and workers compensation 3,229 3,227 Other assets - noncurrent  Total restricted cash $ 28,367 $ 28,580  Pursuant to the terms of the Tower Securities (see Note 10), the Company is required to establish a securitization escrow account, held by the indenture trustee, into which all rents and other sums due on the towers that secure the Tower Securities are directly deposited by the lessees. These restricted cash amounts are used to fund reserve accounts for the payment of (1) debt service costs, (2) ground rents, real estate and personal property taxes and insurance premiums related to towers, (3) trustee and servicing expenses, and (4) management fees. The restricted cash in the securitization escrow account in excess of required reserve balances is subsequently released to the Borrowers (as defined in Note 10) monthly, provided that the Borrowers are in compliance with their debt service coverage ratio and that no event of default has occurred. All monies held by the indenture trustee are classified as Restricted cash on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Payment and performance bonds relate primarily to collateral requirements for tower construction currently in process by the Company. Cash is pledged as collateral related to surety bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or its affiliates in the ordinary course of business and primarily relate d to the Company’s tower removal obligations. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had $38.8 million and $38.6 million in surety , payment and performance bonds, respectively, for which it was only required to post $0.5 million and $0.7 million in collateral , respectively . The Company periodically evaluates the collateral posted for its bonds to ensure that it meets the minimum requirements. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had also pledged $2.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, as collateral related to its workers compensation policy.

Other Assets

Other Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Other Assets [Abstract]
Other Assets	4. OTHER ASSETS The Company’s other assets are comprised of the following:     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Long-term investments $ 8,095 $ 8,140  Prepaid land rent 160,991 158,176  Straight-line rent receivable 278,670 267,682  Deferred lease costs, net 30,458 30,577  Deferred financing fees, net 3,680 3,919  Other 40,500 32,760  Total other assets $ 522,394 $ 501,254

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Acquisitions	5. ACQUISITIONS The following table summarizes all of the Company’s cash acquisition capital expenditures:      For the three months  ended March 31,  2016 2015   (in thousands)  Towers and related intangible assets $ 74,844 $ 42,630  Land buyouts and other assets (1) 16,988 10,649  Total cash acquisition capital expenditures $ 91,832 $ 53,279  (1) In addition, the Company paid $3.6 million and $3.3 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. D uring the three months ended March 31, 2016 , t he Company acquired 117 co mpleted t owers and related assets and liabilities for $74.8 million in cash consisting of $24.6 million of property and equipment, $45.8 million of intangible assets, and $4.4 million of working capital adjustments. The Company evaluates all acquisitions after the applicable closing date of each transaction to determine whether any additional adjustments are needed to the allocation of the purchase price paid for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by major balance sheet caption, as well as the separate recognition of intangible assets from goodwill if certain criteria are met. Subsequent to March 31, 2016 , the Compan y acquired 31 completed towers and related assets and liabilities for $32.5 million in cash.

Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible Assets, Net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Intangible Assets, Net	 6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET The following table provides the gross and net carrying amounts for each major class of intangible assets:     As of March 31, 2016 As of December 31, 2015  Gross carrying Accumulated Net book Gross carrying Accumulated Net book  amount amortization value amount amortization value   (in thousands)  Current contract intangibles $ 4,003,832 $ (1,191,738) $ 2,812,094 $ 3,904,864 $ (1,118,493) $ 2,786,371  Network location intangibles 1,475,428 (523,486) 951,942 1,446,293 (497,251) 949,042  Intangible assets, net $ 5,479,260 $ (1,715,224) $ 3,764,036 $ 5,351,157 $ (1,615,744) $ 3,735,413  All intangible assets noted above are included in the Company’s site leasing segment. The Company amortizes its intangible assets using the straight-line method over 15 years. Amortization expense relating to the intangible assets above was $90.2 million and $91.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively.

Property And Equipment, Net

Property And Equipment, Net	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Property And Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property And Equipment, Net	7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET Property and equipment, net (including assets held under capital leases) consists of the following:     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Towers and related components $ 4,435,036 $ 4,370,664  Construction-in-process 35,579 32,730  Furniture, equipment, and vehicles 49,084 48,018  Land, buildings, and improvements 542,223 524,847  Total property and equipment 5,061,922 4,976,259  Less: accumulated depreciation (2,259,260) (2,193,906)  Property and equipment, net $ 2,802,662 $ 2,782,353  Construction-in-process represents costs incurred related to towers that are under development and will be used in the Company’s operations. Depreciation expense was $69.5 million and $80.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , non-cash capital expenditures that are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses were $5.2 million and $9.5 million, respectively.

Costs And Estimated Earnings On

Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts	8. COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts consist of the following:     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts $ 65,088 $ 78,849  Estimated earnings 24,958 29,333  Billings to date (77,916) (95,055)  $ 12,130 $ 13,127  These amounts are included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets under the following captions:     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts $ 12,683 $ 16,934  Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on  uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities) (553) (3,807)  $ 12,130 $ 13,127  Eight significant customers comprised 88.8% and 95.9% of the costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , respectively.

Accrued Expenses

Accrued Expenses	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accrued Expenses [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses	9. ACCRUED EXPENSES The Company’s accrued expenses are comprised of the following:     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Accrued earnouts $ 5,024 $ 7,230  Salaries and benefits 9,647 14,253  Real estate and property taxes 7,562 7,899  Other 34,424 34,373  Total accrued expenses $ 56,657 $ 63,755

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt [Abstract]
Debt	10. DEBT The principal values, fair values, and carrying values of debt consist of the following (in thousands):     As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015  Maturity Date Principal Balance Fair Value Carrying Value Principal Balance Fair Value Carrying Value  5.625% Senior Notes Oct. 1, 2019 $ 500,000 $ 517,500 $ 495,258 $ 500,000 $ 521,250 $ 494,955  5.750% Senior Notes July 15, 2020 800,000 822,000 791,666 800,000 832,000 791,243  4.875% Senior Notes July 15, 2022 750,000 755,625 735,497 750,000 744,375 735,010  2010-2C Tower Securities April 11, 2017 550,000 554,169 548,594 550,000 558,223 548,268  2012-1C Tower Securities Dec. 11, 2017 610,000 611,562 604,952 610,000 611,879 604,229  2013-1C Tower Securities April 10, 2018 425,000 420,793 421,513 425,000 416,959 421,099  2013-2C Tower Securities April 11, 2023 575,000 572,395 566,774 575,000 565,541 566,523  2013-1D Tower Securities April 10, 2018 330,000 335,240 327,240 330,000 332,676 326,918  2014-1C Tower Securities Oct. 8, 2019 920,000 912,410 910,243 920,000 910,368 909,595  2014-2C Tower Securities Oct. 8, 2024 620,000 618,878 612,047 620,000 608,084 611,853  2015-1C Tower Securities Oct. 8, 2020 500,000 501,330 489,725 500,000 489,680 489,496  Revolving Credit Facility Feb. 5, 2020 20,000 20,000 20,000 — — —  2014 Term Loan Mar. 24, 2021 1,473,750 1,466,381 1,461,581 1,477,500 1,447,950 1,464,774  2015 Term Loan June 10, 2022 496,250 491,288 487,180 497,500 486,306 488,107  Total debt $ 8,570,000 $ 8,599,571 $ 8,472,270 $ 8,555,000 $ 8,525,291 $ 8,452,070  Less: current maturities of long-term debt (20,000) (20,000)  Total long-term debt, net of current maturities $ 8,452,270 $ 8,432,070 The table below reflects cash and non-cash interest expense amounts recognized by debt instrument for the periods presented:      For the three months ended March 31,  2016 2015  Cash Non-cash Cash Non-cash  Interest Interest Interest Interest   (in thousands)  5.625% Senior Notes $ 7,031 $ — $ 7,031 $ —  5.75% Senior Notes 11,500 — 11,500 —  4.875% Senior Notes 9,141 169 9,141 161  2010 Tower Securities 7,058 — 7,058 —  2012 Tower Securities 4,534 — 4,531 —  2013 Tower Securities 10,804 — 10,804 —  2014 Tower Securities 12,785 — 12,785 —  2015 Tower Securities 3,985 — — —  Revolving Credit Facility 833 — 1,571 —  2012-1 Term Loan — — 1,153 —  2014 Term Loan 12,138 125 12,125 119  2015 Term Loan 4,087 161 — —  Other (92) — (45) —  Total $ 83,804 $ 455 $ 77,654 $ 280  Revolving Credit Facility under the Senior Credit Agreement The Revolving Credit Facility is governed by the Senior Credit Agreement. T he Revolving Credit Facility consists of a revolving loan under which up to $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount may be borrowed, repaid and redrawn, subject to compliance with specific financial ratios and the satisfaction of other customary conditions to borrowing. Amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Facility accrue interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either (i) the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin that ranges from 137.5 basis points to 200.0 basis points or (ii) the Base Rate plus a margin that ranges from 37.5 basis points to 100.0 basis points, in each case based on the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Annualized Borrower EBITDA, calculated in accordance with the Senior Credit Agreement. In addition, SBA Senior Finance II is required to pay a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the amount of unused commitment. If not earlier terminated by SBA Senior Finance II, the Revolving Credit Facility will terminate on, and SBA Senior Finance II will repay all amounts outstanding on or before, February 5, 2020 . The proceeds available under the Revolving Credit Facility may be used for general corporate purposes. SBA Senior Finance II may, from time to time, borrow from and repay the Revolving Credit Facility. Consequently, the amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility at the end of a period may not be reflective of the total amounts outstanding during such period. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company borrowed $70.0 million and repaid $50.0 million of the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2016 , $20.0 million was outstanding u nder the Revolving Credit Facility. A s of March 31, 2016 , SBA Senior Finance II was in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Senior Credit Agreement. The remaining borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility was $980.0 million a s of March 31, 2016 , subject to compliance with specified financial ratios and satisfaction of other customary conditions to borrowing . Subsequent to March 31, 2016 , the Company repaid the $20.0 million balance outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility. Term Loans under the Senior Credit Agreement 2012-1 Term Loan The 2012-1 Term Loan consist ed of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million that was to mature on May 9, 2017 . The 2012-1 Term Loan accrue d interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either the Base Rate plus a margin that ranges from 100 to 150 basis points or the Eurodollar Rate plus a margin that ranges from 200 to 250 basis points, in each case based on the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Annualized Borrower EBITDA (calculated in accordance with the Senior Credit Agreement). The 2012-1 Term Loan was issued at par. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $2.7 million in relation to this transaction which we re being amortized through the maturity date. During 2015, the Company repaid the outstanding principal balance on the 2012-1 Term Loan. 2014 Term Loan The 2014 Term Loan consists of a senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $1.5 billion that mature s on March 24, 2021 . The 2014 Term Loan accrue s interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either the Base Rate plus 150 basis points (with a Base Rate floor of 1.75% ) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 250 basis points (with a Eurodollar Rate floor of 0.75% ). The 2014 Term Loan was issued at 99.75% of par value. As of March 31, 2016 , the 2014 Term Loan was accruing interest at 3.25% per annum. Principal payments on the 2014 Term Loan commenced on September 30, 2014 and are be ing made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $3.8 million. SBA Senior Finance II has the ability to prepay any or all amounts under the 2014 Term Loan. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of approximately $12.9 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the maturity date. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company repaid $3.8 million of principal on the 2014 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2016 , the 2014 Term Loan had a principal balance of $1.47 billion. 2015 Term Loan On June 10, 2015, SBA Senior Finance II obtained a new senior secured term loan with an initial aggregate principal amount of $500.0 million that matures on June 10, 2022 (the “2015 Term Loan”). The 2015 Term Loan accrues interest, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, at either the Base Rate plus 150 basis points (with a Base Rate floor of 1.75%) or the Eurodollar Rate plus 250 basis points (with a Eurodollar Rate floor of 0.75%) . The 2015 Term Loan was issued at 99.0% of par value. As of March 31, 2016 , the 2015 Term Loan was accruing interest at 3.25% per annum. Principal payments on the 2015 Term Loan commence d on September 30, 2015 and are being made in quarterly installments on the last day of each March, June, September, and December in an amount equal to $1.3 million. SBA Senior Finance II has the ability to prepay any or all amounts under the 2015 Term Loan. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of approximately $5.1 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the maturity date. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the Company repaid $1.3 million of principal on the 2015 Term Loan. As of March 31, 2016 , the 2015 Term Loan had a principal balance of $496.3 million. Secured Tower Revenue Securities 2010 Tower Securities On April 16, 2010, the Company, through a New York common law trust (the “Trust”), issued $550.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2010-2C (the “2010 Tower Securities”). The 2010 Tower Securities have an annual interest rate of 5.101% . The anticipated repayment date and the final maturity date for the 2010 Tower Securities are April 11, 2017 and April 9, 2042 , respectively. The sole asset of the Trust consists of a non-recourse mortgage loan made in favor of those entities that are borrowers on the mortgage loan (the “Borrowers”). The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $8.1 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2010 Tower Securities. 2012 Tower Securities On August 9, 2012, the Company, through the Trust, issued $610.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2012-1C (the “2012 Tower Securities”) which have an anticipated repayment date of December 11, 2017 and a final maturity date of December 9, 2042 . The fixed interest rate of the 2012 Tower Securities is 2.933% per annum, payable monthly. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $14.9 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 2012 Tower Securities. 2013 Tower Securities On April 18, 2013, the Company, through the Trust, issued $425.0 million of 2.240% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-1C which have an anticipated repayment date of April 10, 2018 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2043 , $575.0 million of 3.722% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-2C which have an anticipated repayment date of April 11, 2023 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2048 , and $330.0 million of 3.598% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2013-1D which have an anticipated repayment date of April 10, 2018 and a final maturity date of April 9, 2043 (collectively the “2013 Tower Securities”). The aggregate $1.33 billion of 2013 Tower Securities have a blended interest rate of 3.218% per annum, payable monthly. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $25.5 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of each of the 2013 Tower Securities. 2014 Tower Securities On October 15, 2014, the Company, through the Trust, issued $920.0 million of 2.898% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2014-1C which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2019 and a final maturity date of October 11, 2044 , and $620.0 million of 3.869% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2014-2C which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2024 and a final maturity date of October 8, 2049 (collectively the “2014 Tower Securities”). The aggregate $1.54 billion of 2014 Tower Securities have a blended interest rate of 3.289% per annum, payable monthly . The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $22.5 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of each of the 2014 Tower Securities. 201 5 Tower Securities On October 1 4 , 201 5 , the Company, through the Trust, issued $500.0 million of Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 201 5 -1C which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2020 and a final maturity date of October 10, 2045 (the “201 5 Tower Securities”). The fixed interest rate of the 2015 Tower Securities is 3.156% per annum, payable monthly. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $10.9 million to date in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the anticipated repayment date of the 201 5 Tower Securities. As of March 31, 2016 , the Borrowers met the debt service coverage ratio required by the mortgage loan agreement and were in compliance with all other covenants as set forth in the agreement. Senior Notes 5.75% Senior Notes On July 13, 2012, SBA Telecommunications, LLC (“Telecommunications”) issued $800.0 million of unsecured senior notes due July 15, 2020 (the “5.75% Notes”). The 5.75% Notes accrue interest at a rate of 5.75% and were issued at par. Interest on the 5.75% Notes is due semi-annually on July 15 and January 15 of each year. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $14.0 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the maturity date. SBA Communications Corporation (“SBAC”) is a holding company with no business operations of its own and its only significant asset is the outstanding capital stock of Telecommunications. Telecommunications is 100% owned by SBAC. SBAC has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Senior Notes issued by Telecommunications. 5.625% Senior Notes On September 28, 2012, the Company issued $500.0 million of unsecured senior notes due October 1, 2019 (the “5.625% Notes”). The 5.625% Notes accrue interest at a rate of 5.625% per annum and were issued at par. Interest on the 5.625% Notes is due semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $8.6 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the maturity date. 4.875% Senior Notes On July 1, 2014, the Company issued $750.0 million of unsecured senior notes due July 15, 2022 (the “4.875% Notes”). The 4.875% Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum and were issued at 99.178% of par value. Interest on the 4.875% Notes is due semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Company incurred deferred financing fees of $11.6 million in relation to this transaction which are being amortized through the maturity date.

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Shareholders' Equity [Abstract]
Shareholders' Equity	11. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Common Stock equivalents The Company has potential common stock equivalents related to its outstanding stock options (see Note 12) and restricted stock units . These potential common stock equivalents were considered in the Company’s diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation (see Note 15). Stock Repurchases On June 4, 2015, the Company announced the authorization of a new $1.0 billion stock repurchase plan. This new plan authorizes the Company to purchase from time to time the Company ’ s outstanding common stock through open market repurchases in compliance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and/or in privately negotiated transactions at management's discretion. Shares purchased will be retired. During the first quarter of 2016, the Com pany repurchased 0.5 million shares of its Class A common stock for $50.0 million at a weighted average price per share of $ 98.65 . The Company currently has $650.0 million of repurchase authorization remaining under its $1.0 billion stock repurchase program.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	12. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION Stock Options The Company records compensation expense for employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company uses a combination of historical data and historical volatility to establish the expected volatility. Historical data is used to estimate the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:     For the three months ended  March 31,  2016 2015   Risk free interest rate 1.33% - 1.43% 1.31% - 1.45%  Dividend yield 0.0% 0.0%  Expected volatility 20.0% 20.0%  Expected lives 4.7 years 4.6 years  The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as follows (dollars and number of shares in thousands, except for per share data):     Weighted-  Weighted- Average  Average Remaining  Number Exercise Price Contractual Aggregate  of Shares Per Share Life (in years) Intrinsic Value  Outstanding at December 31, 2015 3,794 $ 84.66  Granted 1,337 $ 96.58  Exercised (203) $ 33.44  Canceled (35) $ 105.54  Outstanding at March 31, 2016 4,893 $ 89.89 5.1 $ 75,392  Exercisable at March 31, 2016 2,015 $ 72.53 3.7 $ 61,924  Unvested at March 31, 2016 2,878 $ 102.06 6.1 $ 13,468  The weighted-average per share fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $19.19 . The total intrinsic value for options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $12.7 million. Restricted Stock Units The following table summarizes the Company’s restricted stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 :     Weighted-  Average  Grant Date  Number of Fair Value per  Units Share  (in thousands)  Outstanding at December 31, 2015 277 $ 97.14  Granted 131 $ 96.58  Vested (107) $ 83.84  Forfeited/canceled (4) $ 104.43  Outstanding at March 31, 2016 297 $ 101.59

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	13. INCOME TAXES The primary reason for the difference in the Company’s effective tax rate and the US statutory rate is a result of the Company having a full valuation allowance on its US net deferred tax assets. The Company has concluded that it is not more likely than not that its deferred tax assets will be realized and has recorded a full valuation allowance. A foreign tax provision is recognized because certain international subsidiaries of the Company have profitable operations or are in a net deferred tax liability position.

Segment Data

Segment Data	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Data [Abstract]
Segment Data	14. SEGMENT DATA The Company operates principally in two business segments : site leasing and site development . The Company’s site leasing business includes two reportable segments , domestic site leasing and international site leasing. The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different services . They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their operations. The site leasing segment include s results of the managed and sublease businesses. The site development segment includes the results of both consulting and construction related activities. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker utilizes segment operating profit and operating income as his two measures of segment profit in assessing performance and allocating resources at the reportable segment level. Revenues, cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion and amortization), capital expenditures (including assets acquired through the issuance of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock) and identifiable assets pertaining to the segments in which the Company continues to operate are presented below.      Domestic Site Int'l Site Site Not Identified  Leasing Leasing Development by Segment (1) Total   For the three months ended March 31, 2016 (in thousands)  Revenues $ 315,230 $ 59,220 $ 25,319 $ — $ 399,769  Cost of revenues (2) 64,475 18,287 19,833 — 102,595  Operating profit 250,755 40,933 5,486 — 297,174  Selling, general, and administrative 17,998 4,385 3,537 4,486 30,406  Acquisition related adjustments and expenses 1,842 1,340 — — 3,182  Asset impairment and decommission costs 6,021 162 — — 6,183  Depreciation, amortization and accretion 131,393 26,877 1,025 506 159,801  Operating income (loss) 93,501 8,169 924 (4,992) 97,602  Other expense (principally interest expense  and other expense) (41,758) (41,758)  Income before provision for income taxes 55,844  Cash capital expenditures (3) 105,353 21,380 556 876 128,165   For the three months ended March 31, 2015  Revenues $ 305,950 $ 63,777 $ 40,367 $ — $ 410,094  Cost of revenues (2) 61,686 18,531 30,893 — 111,110  Operating profit 244,264 45,246 9,474 — 298,984  Selling, general, and administrative 17,655 3,893 2,122 6,214 29,884  Acquisition related adjustments and expenses 476 863 — — 1,339  Asset impairment and decommission costs 6,594 228 — — 6,822  Depreciation, amortization and accretion 137,460 32,426 707 1,260 171,853  Operating income (loss) 82,079 7,836 6,645 (7,474) 89,086  Other expense (principally interest expense  and other expense) (165,153) (165,153)  Loss before provision for income taxes (76,067)  Cash capital expenditures (3) 91,402 21,775 1,831 7,835 122,843       Domestic Site Int'l Site Site Not Identified  Leasing Leasing Development by Segment (1) Total   (in thousands)  Assets  As of March 31, 2016 $ 5,555,952 $ 1,689,109 $ 40,565 $ 86,018 $ 7,371,644  As of December 31, 2015 $ 5,587,476 $ 1,564,496 $ 56,631 $ 104,377 $ 7,312,980  (1) Assets not identified by segment consist primarily of general corporate assets. (2) Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion. (3) Includes cash paid for capital expenditures and acquisitions and vehicle capital lease additions.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	15. EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for each respective period. Diluted earnings per share was calculated by dividing net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding and any dilutive Common Stock equivalents, including unvested restricted stock and shares issuable upon exercise of stock options as determined under the “If-Converted” method and also Common Stock warrants as determined under the “Treasury Stock” method. The following table sets forth basic and diluted income from continuing operations per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per share data):     For the three months  ended March 31,  2016 2015  Numerator:  Net income (loss) $ 53,639 $ (79,030)  Denominator:  Basic weighted-average shares outstanding 125,398 129,235  Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted shares 726 —  Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 126,124 129,235  Earnings (loss) per share attributable to continuing operations:  Basic $ 0.43 $ (0.61)  Diluted $ 0.43 $ (0.61)  For the three months ended March 31, 2015, all potential common stock equivalents, including 4.1 million shares underlying stock options outstanding and 0.3 million shares of restricted stock outstanding, were excluded as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

Basis Of Presentation (Policy)

Basis Of Presentation (Policy)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency for the Company’s Central American subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries which are not denominated in U.S. dollars are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Unrealized translation gains and losses are reported as Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the period. Unrealized remeasurement gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Deficit.
Intercompany Loans	Intercompany Loans In accordance with ASC 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company recorded a $44.8 million gain and an $84.0 million loss on the remeasurement of intercompany loans, respectively.
New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted	New Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted In April 2015, the Financial Acco unting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest. The standard requires debt issuance costs to be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 effective January 1, 2016 and reclassified $90.2 million from deferred financing fees, net to long-term debt in the December 31, 2015 Consolidated Balance Sheet. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Interest - Imputation of Interest - Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. The standard indicates the SEC staff would not object to presenting deferred debt issuance costs for a line of credit arrangement as an asset in the balance sheet. The Company adopted ASU 2015-15 effective January 1, 2016 and has elected to continue to present deferred debt issuance costs for its Revolving Credit Facility as an asset on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16 Business Combinations. The standard requires that the acquirer (1) recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined, (2) record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date, and (3) to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The Company adopted ASU 2015-16 effective January 1, 2016. The financial statement impact of adopting this standard was not material for all periods presented. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which the Company adopted as of January 1, 2016. The standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for shared-based payment transactions including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, statutory tax withholding requirements, classification of awards as either equity or a liability, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The financial statement impact of adopting this standard was not material for all periods presented.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In May 2014, the FASB released an updated standard regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers, exclusive of those contracts within lease accounting. The core principle of the standard 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. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2017 for public companies. Under the proposal, the standard would be required to be adopted by public business entities in annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted but not before interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. This standard is required to be applied (1) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented, or (2) with the cumulative effect being recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is evaluating the standard and does not expect a material financial statement impact upon adoption. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The standard amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting. This standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the standard including the impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Summary Of Accrued Earnout Activity	   For the three months ended March 31,  2016 2015   (in thousands)  Beginning balance $ 7,230 $ 15,086  Additions 173 1,372  Payments (1,360) (1,234)  Change in estimate (1,023) (1,552)  Foreign currency translation adjustments 4 (319)  Ending balance $ 5,024 $ 13,353 

Restricted Cash (Tables)

Restricted Cash (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Schedule Of Restricted Cash	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015 Included on Balance Sheet   (in thousands)  Securitization escrow accounts $ 24,910 $ 25,135 Restricted cash - current asset  Payment and performance bonds 228 218 Restricted cash - current asset  Surety bonds and workers compensation 3,229 3,227 Other assets - noncurrent  Total restricted cash $ 28,367 $ 28,580 

Other Assets (Tables)

Other Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Other Assets [Abstract]
Schedule Of Other Assets	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Long-term investments $ 8,095 $ 8,140  Prepaid land rent 160,991 158,176  Straight-line rent receivable 278,670 267,682  Deferred lease costs, net 30,458 30,577  Deferred financing fees, net 3,680 3,919  Other 40,500 32,760  Total other assets $ 522,394 $ 501,254 

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Schedule Of Acquisition Capital Expenditures	   For the three months  ended March 31,  2016 2015   (in thousands)  Towers and related intangible assets $ 74,844 $ 42,630  Land buyouts and other assets (1) 16,988 10,649  Total cash acquisition capital expenditures $ 91,832 $ 53,279  (1) In addition, the Company paid $3.6 million and $3.3 million for ground lease extensions and term easements on land underlying the Company’s towers during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The Company recorded these amounts in prepaid rent on its Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Intangible Assets, Net (Tables)

Intangible Assets, Net (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Gross And Net Carrying Amounts For Each Major Class Of Intangible Assets	   As of March 31, 2016 As of December 31, 2015  Gross carrying Accumulated Net book Gross carrying Accumulated Net book  amount amortization value amount amortization value   (in thousands)  Current contract intangibles $ 4,003,832 $ (1,191,738) $ 2,812,094 $ 3,904,864 $ (1,118,493) $ 2,786,371  Network location intangibles 1,475,428 (523,486) 951,942 1,446,293 (497,251) 949,042  Intangible assets, net $ 5,479,260 $ (1,715,224) $ 3,764,036 $ 5,351,157 $ (1,615,744) $ 3,735,413 

Property And Equipment, Net (Ta

Property And Equipment, Net (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Property And Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Property And Equipment, Net (Including Assets Held Under Capital Leases)	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Towers and related components $ 4,435,036 $ 4,370,664  Construction-in-process 35,579 32,730  Furniture, equipment, and vehicles 49,084 48,018  Land, buildings, and improvements 542,223 524,847  Total property and equipment 5,061,922 4,976,259  Less: accumulated depreciation (2,259,260) (2,193,906)  Property and equipment, net $ 2,802,662 $ 2,782,353 

Costs And Estimated Earnings 31

Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Summary Of Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts $ 65,088 $ 78,849  Estimated earnings 24,958 29,333  Billings to date (77,916) (95,055)  $ 12,130 $ 13,127 
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts Accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts $ 12,683 $ 16,934  Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on  uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities) (553) (3,807)  $ 12,130 $ 13,127 

Accrued Expenses (Tables)

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accrued Expenses [Abstract]
Schedule Of Accrued Expenses	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015   (in thousands)  Accrued earnouts $ 5,024 $ 7,230  Salaries and benefits 9,647 14,253  Real estate and property taxes 7,562 7,899  Other 34,424 34,373  Total accrued expenses $ 56,657 $ 63,755 

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt [Abstract]
Carrying And Principal Values Of Debt	   As of As of  March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015  Maturity Date Principal Balance Fair Value Carrying Value Principal Balance Fair Value Carrying Value  5.625% Senior Notes Oct. 1, 2019 $ 500,000 $ 517,500 $ 495,258 $ 500,000 $ 521,250 $ 494,955  5.750% Senior Notes July 15, 2020 800,000 822,000 791,666 800,000 832,000 791,243  4.875% Senior Notes July 15, 2022 750,000 755,625 735,497 750,000 744,375 735,010  2010-2C Tower Securities April 11, 2017 550,000 554,169 548,594 550,000 558,223 548,268  2012-1C Tower Securities Dec. 11, 2017 610,000 611,562 604,952 610,000 611,879 604,229  2013-1C Tower Securities April 10, 2018 425,000 420,793 421,513 425,000 416,959 421,099  2013-2C Tower Securities April 11, 2023 575,000 572,395 566,774 575,000 565,541 566,523  2013-1D Tower Securities April 10, 2018 330,000 335,240 327,240 330,000 332,676 326,918  2014-1C Tower Securities Oct. 8, 2019 920,000 912,410 910,243 920,000 910,368 909,595  2014-2C Tower Securities Oct. 8, 2024 620,000 618,878 612,047 620,000 608,084 611,853  2015-1C Tower Securities Oct. 8, 2020 500,000 501,330 489,725 500,000 489,680 489,496  Revolving Credit Facility Feb. 5, 2020 20,000 20,000 20,000 — — —  2014 Term Loan Mar. 24, 2021 1,473,750 1,466,381 1,461,581 1,477,500 1,447,950 1,464,774  2015 Term Loan June 10, 2022 496,250 491,288 487,180 497,500 486,306 488,107  Total debt $ 8,570,000 $ 8,599,571 $ 8,472,270 $ 8,555,000 $ 8,525,291 $ 8,452,070  Less: current maturities of long-term debt (20,000) (20,000)  Total long-term debt, net of current maturities $ 8,452,270 $ 8,432,070 
Schedule Of Cash And Non-Cash Interest Expense	   For the three months ended March 31,  2016 2015  Cash Non-cash Cash Non-cash  Interest Interest Interest Interest   (in thousands)  5.625% Senior Notes $ 7,031 $ — $ 7,031 $ —  5.75% Senior Notes 11,500 — 11,500 —  4.875% Senior Notes 9,141 169 9,141 161  2010 Tower Securities 7,058 — 7,058 —  2012 Tower Securities 4,534 — 4,531 —  2013 Tower Securities 10,804 — 10,804 —  2014 Tower Securities 12,785 — 12,785 —  2015 Tower Securities 3,985 — — —  Revolving Credit Facility 833 — 1,571 —  2012-1 Term Loan — — 1,153 —  2014 Term Loan 12,138 125 12,125 119  2015 Term Loan 4,087 161 — —  Other (92) — (45) —  Total $ 83,804 $ 455 $ 77,654 $ 280 

Stock-Based Compensation (Table

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Schedule Of Assumptions Used To Estimate Fair Value Of Stock Options	   For the three months ended  March 31,  2016 2015   Risk free interest rate 1.33% - 1.43% 1.31% - 1.45%  Dividend yield 0.0% 0.0%  Expected volatility 20.0% 20.0%  Expected lives 4.7 years 4.6 years 
Company's Activities With Respect To Its Stock Options	   Weighted-  Weighted- Average  Average Remaining  Number Exercise Price Contractual Aggregate  of Shares Per Share Life (in years) Intrinsic Value  Outstanding at December 31, 2015 3,794 $ 84.66  Granted 1,337 $ 96.58  Exercised (203) $ 33.44  Canceled (35) $ 105.54  Outstanding at March 31, 2016 4,893 $ 89.89 5.1 $ 75,392  Exercisable at March 31, 2016 2,015 $ 72.53 3.7 $ 61,924  Unvested at March 31, 2016 2,878 $ 102.06 6.1 $ 13,468 
Company's Restricted Stock Unit Activity	   Weighted-  Average  Grant Date  Number of Fair Value per  Units Share  (in thousands)  Outstanding at December 31, 2015 277 $ 97.14  Granted 131 $ 96.58  Vested (107) $ 83.84  Forfeited/canceled (4) $ 104.43  Outstanding at March 31, 2016 297 $ 101.59 

Segment Data (Tables)

Segment Data (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Data [Abstract]
Segment Reporting Information Disclosure	    Domestic Site Int'l Site Site Not Identified  Leasing Leasing Development by Segment (1) Total   For the three months ended March 31, 2016 (in thousands)  Revenues $ 315,230 $ 59,220 $ 25,319 $ — $ 399,769  Cost of revenues (2) 64,475 18,287 19,833 — 102,595  Operating profit 250,755 40,933 5,486 — 297,174  Selling, general, and administrative 17,998 4,385 3,537 4,486 30,406  Acquisition related adjustments and expenses 1,842 1,340 — — 3,182  Asset impairment and decommission costs 6,021 162 — — 6,183  Depreciation, amortization and accretion 131,393 26,877 1,025 506 159,801  Operating income (loss) 93,501 8,169 924 (4,992) 97,602  Other expense (principally interest expense  and other expense) (41,758) (41,758)  Income before provision for income taxes 55,844  Cash capital expenditures (3) 105,353 21,380 556 876 128,165   For the three months ended March 31, 2015  Revenues $ 305,950 $ 63,777 $ 40,367 $ — $ 410,094  Cost of revenues (2) 61,686 18,531 30,893 — 111,110  Operating profit 244,264 45,246 9,474 — 298,984  Selling, general, and administrative 17,655 3,893 2,122 6,214 29,884  Acquisition related adjustments and expenses 476 863 — — 1,339  Asset impairment and decommission costs 6,594 228 — — 6,822  Depreciation, amortization and accretion 137,460 32,426 707 1,260 171,853  Operating income (loss) 82,079 7,836 6,645 (7,474) 89,086  Other expense (principally interest expense  and other expense) (165,153) (165,153)  Loss before provision for income taxes (76,067)  Cash capital expenditures (3) 91,402 21,775 1,831 7,835 122,843       Domestic Site Int'l Site Site Not Identified  Leasing Leasing Development by Segment (1) Total   (in thousands)  Assets  As of March 31, 2016 $ 5,555,952 $ 1,689,109 $ 40,565 $ 86,018 $ 7,371,644  As of December 31, 2015 $ 5,587,476 $ 1,564,496 $ 56,631 $ 104,377 $ 7,312,980  (1) Assets not identified by segment consist primarily of general corporate assets. (2) Excludes depreciation, amortization, and accretion. (3) Includes cash paid for capital expenditures and acquisitions and vehicle capital lease additions. 

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding Used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	   For the three months  ended March 31,  2016 2015  Numerator:  Net income (loss) $ 53,639 $ (79,030)  Denominator:  Basic weighted-average shares outstanding 125,398 129,235  Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted shares 726 —  Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 126,124 129,235  Earnings (loss) per share attributable to continuing operations:  Basic $ 0.43 $ (0.61)  Diluted $ 0.43 $ (0.61) 

Basis of Presentation (Narrativ

Basis of Presentation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Basis Of Presentation [Abstract]
Gain (loss) on remeasurement of U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loan	$ 44,765	$ (83,995)
Reclassified amount from deferred financing fees			$ 90,200

Fair Value Measurements (Narrat

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 05, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accrued earnouts		$ 5,024	$ 13,353	$ 7,230	$ 15,086
Performance targets, maximum potential obligation		7,400		10,200
Impairment charge recognized, related to long-lived assets		6,200	6,800
Write-offs relating to long-lived assets and intangibles		4,200	3,900
Certificate of deposits		500
Treasury securities		200		200
Held-to-maturity investments, carrying value		800	1,100	800
Held-to-maturity investments, fair value		900		$ 900
Not Identified by Segment [Member]
Write-offs relating to long-lived assets and intangibles		$ 2,000
Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Write-offs relating to long-lived assets and intangibles			$ 1,800
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.375%	1.375%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	2.00%	2.00%

Fair Value Measurements (Summar

Fair Value Measurements (Summary Of Accrued Earnout Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]
Beginning balance	$ 7,230	$ 15,086
Additions	173	1,372
Payments	(1,360)	(1,234)
Change in estimate	(1,023)	(1,552)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4	(319)
Ending balance	$ 5,024	$ 13,353

Restricted Cash (Narrative) (De

Restricted Cash (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Surety, payment and performance bonds	$ 38.8	$ 38.6
Collateral payment for performance bonds	0.5	0.7
Collateral related to workers compensation policy	$ 2.5	$ 2.5

Restricted Cash (Schedule Of Re

Restricted Cash (Schedule Of Restricted Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total restricted cash	$ 28,367	$ 28,580
Restricted Cash - Current Asset [Member] | Securitization Escrow Accounts [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total restricted cash	24,910	25,135
Restricted Cash - Current Asset [Member] | Payment and Performance Bonds [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total restricted cash	228	218
Other Assets - Noncurrent [Member] | Surety Bonds and Workers Compensation [Member]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Items [Line Items]
Total restricted cash	$ 3,229	$ 3,227

Other Assets (Details)

Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Assets [Abstract]
Long-term investments	$ 8,095	$ 8,140
Prepaid land rent	160,991	158,176
Straight-line rent receivable	278,670	267,682
Deferred lease costs, net	30,458	30,577
Deferred financing fees, net	3,680	3,919
Other	40,500	32,760
Total other assets	$ 522,394	$ 501,254

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Detai

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	Apr. 01, 2016USD ($)item	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)item
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item		117
Cash paid for acquisition		$ 74.8
Property and equipment		24.6
Intangible assets		45.8
Working capital adjustments		$ 4.4
Subsequent Event [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of towers acquired | item	31
Cash paid for acquisition	$ 32.5

Acquisitions (Schedule Of Acqui

Acquisitions (Schedule Of Acquisition Capital Expenditures) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Towers and related intangible assets	$ 74,844	$ 42,630
Land buyouts and other assets	16,988	10,649
Total cash acquisition capital expenditures	91,832	53,279
Ground lease extensions	$ 3,600	$ 3,300

Intangible Assets, Net (Narrati

Intangible Assets, Net (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Intangible assets, useful life	15 years
Amortization expense	$ 90.2	$ 91.4

Intangible Assets, Net (Gross A

Intangible Assets, Net (Gross And Net Carrying Amounts For Each Major Class Of Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	$ 5,479,260	$ 5,351,157
Accumulated amortization	(1,715,224)	(1,615,744)
Net book value	3,764,036	3,735,413
Current Contract Intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	4,003,832	3,904,864
Accumulated amortization	(1,191,738)	(1,118,493)
Net book value	2,812,094	2,786,371
Network Location Intangibles [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	1,475,428	1,446,293
Accumulated amortization	(523,486)	(497,251)
Net book value	$ 951,942	$ 949,042

Property And Equipment, Net (Na

Property And Equipment, Net (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Property And Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Depreciation expense	$ 69.5	$ 80.4
Non-cash capital expenditures	$ 5.2		$ 9.5

Property And Equipment, Net (Pr

Property And Equipment, Net (Property And Equipment, Net (Including Assets Held Under Capital Leases)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 5,061,922	$ 4,976,259
Less: accumulated depreciation	(2,259,260)	(2,193,906)
Property and equipment, net	2,802,662	2,782,353
Towers And Related Components [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	4,435,036	4,370,664
Construction-In-Process [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	35,579	32,730
Furniture, Equipment and Vehicles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	49,084	48,018
Land, Buildings, and Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property and equipment	$ 542,223	$ 524,847

Costs And Estimated Earnings 49

Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts (Narrative) (Details) - customer	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, net of billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts, percentage comprised by significant customers	88.80%	95.90%
Number of significant customers	8	8

Costs And Estimated Earnings 50

Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts (Summary Of Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$ 65,088	$ 78,849
Estimated earnings	24,958	29,333
Billings to date	(77,916)	(95,055)
Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	$ 12,130	$ 13,127

Costs And Estimated Earnings 51

Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts (Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts Accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Costs And Estimated Earnings On Uncompleted Contracts [Abstract]
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	$ 12,683	$ 16,934
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts (included in Other current liabilities)	(553)	(3,807)
Costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	$ 12,130	$ 13,127

Accrued Expenses (Details)

Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accrued Expenses [Abstract]
Accrued earnouts	$ 5,024	$ 7,230
Salaries and benefits	9,647	14,253
Real estate and property taxes	7,562	7,899
Other	34,424	34,373
Total accrued expenses	$ 56,657	$ 63,755

Debt (Revolving Credit Facility

Debt (Revolving Credit Facility Under The Senior Credit Agreement) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2016	Feb. 05, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Repayments of revolving credit facility			$ 50,000	$ 25,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 1,000,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee		0.25%
Revolving credit facility, maturity date			Feb. 5, 2020
Borrowings on the revolving credit facility			$ 70,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility			50,000
Line of credit facility, outstanding			20,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity			$ 980,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Repayments of revolving credit facility	$ 20,000
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		1.375%	1.375%
Minimum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		0.375%
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		2.00%	2.00%
Maximum [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Base Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		1.00%

Debt (Term Loans Under The Seni

Debt (Term Loans Under The Senior Credit Agreement) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 10, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of term loans		$ 5,000,000	$ 7,500,000
Deferred financing fees, expensed		5,265,000	$ 4,544,000
Debt instrument, principal balance		8,570,000,000		$ 8,555,000,000
2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 200,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		May 9, 2017
Deferred financing fees		$ 2,700,000
2014 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 1,500,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Mar. 24, 2021
Term Loan, percentage of par value		99.75%
Coupon rate of notes		3.25%
Deferred financing fees		$ 12,900,000
Quarterly payments		3,800,000
Repayment of term loans		3,800,000
Debt instrument, principal balance		$ 1,473,750,000		1,477,500,000
2015 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 500,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Jun. 10, 2022
Term Loan, percentage of par value	99.00%
Coupon rate of notes		3.25%
Quarterly payments		$ 1,300,000
Repayment of term loans		1,300,000
Deferred financing fees, expensed		5,100,000
Debt instrument, principal balance		$ 496,250,000		$ 497,500,000
Base Rate [Member] | 2014 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		1.50%
Base rate floor		1.75%
Base Rate [Member] | 2015 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	1.50%
Base rate floor	1.75%
Eurodollar [Member] | 2014 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		2.50%
Eurodollar rate floor		0.75%
Eurodollar [Member] | 2015 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate	2.50%
Eurodollar rate floor	0.75%
Minimum [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | 2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		1.00%
Minimum [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | 2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		2.00%
Maximum [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | 2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		1.50%
Maximum [Member] | Eurodollar [Member] | 2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable interest rate		2.50%

Debt (Secured Tower Revenue Sec

Debt (Secured Tower Revenue Securities) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 14, 2015	Oct. 15, 2014	Apr. 18, 2013	Aug. 09, 2012	Apr. 16, 2010	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees, expensed						$ 5,265,000	$ 4,544,000
Aggregate debt						$ 8,472,270,000		$ 8,452,070,000
2010-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 550,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					5.101%
Repayment date of debt instrument					Apr. 11, 2017
Debt instrument, maturity date					Apr. 9, 2042	Apr. 11, 2017
Deferred financing fees					$ 8,100,000
Aggregate debt						$ 548,594,000		548,268,000
2012-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 610,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				2.933%
Repayment date of debt instrument				Dec. 11, 2017
Debt instrument, maturity date				Dec. 9, 2042		Dec. 11, 2017
Deferred financing fees, expensed				$ 14,900,000
Aggregate debt						$ 604,952,000		604,229,000
2013 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees, expensed			$ 25,500,000
Debt instrument, weighted average interest rate			3.218%
Aggregate debt			$ 1,330,000,000
2013-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 425,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			2.24%
Repayment date of debt instrument			Apr. 10, 2018
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 9, 2043			Apr. 10, 2018
Aggregate debt						$ 421,513,000		421,099,000
2013-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 575,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.722%
Repayment date of debt instrument			Apr. 11, 2023
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 9, 2048			Apr. 11, 2023
Aggregate debt						$ 566,774,000		566,523,000
2013-1D Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 330,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.598%
Repayment date of debt instrument			Apr. 10, 2018
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 9, 2043			Apr. 10, 2018
Aggregate debt						$ 327,240,000		326,918,000
2014 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees, expensed		$ 22,500,000
Debt instrument, weighted average interest rate		3.289%
Aggregate debt		$ 1,540,000,000
2014-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 920,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		2.898%
Repayment date of debt instrument		Oct. 8, 2019
Debt instrument, maturity date		Oct. 11, 2044				Oct. 8, 2019
Aggregate debt						$ 910,243,000		909,595,000
2014-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 620,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.869%
Repayment date of debt instrument		Oct. 8, 2024
Debt instrument, maturity date		Oct. 8, 2049				Oct. 8, 2024
Aggregate debt						$ 612,047,000		611,853,000
2015-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 500,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.156%
Repayment date of debt instrument	Oct. 8, 2020
Debt instrument, maturity date	Oct. 10, 2045					Oct. 8, 2020
Deferred financing fees, expensed	$ 10,900,000
Aggregate debt						$ 489,725,000		$ 489,496,000

Debt (Senior Notes) (Narrative)

Debt (Senior Notes) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 01, 2014	Sep. 28, 2012	Jul. 13, 2012	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees, expensed				$ 5,265	$ 4,544
5.75% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes			$ 800,000
Debt instrument, maturity date				Jul. 15, 2020
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			5.75%	5.75%
Deferred financing fees, expensed			$ 14,000
Interest payable dates				July 15 and January 15
5.75% Senior Notes [Member] | Telecommunications [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Ownership interest				100.00%
5.625% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes		$ 500,000
Debt instrument, maturity date				Oct. 1, 2019
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		5.625%		5.625%
Deferred financing fees, expensed		$ 8,600
Interest payable dates				April 1 and October 1
4.875% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes	$ 750,000
Debt instrument, maturity date				Jul. 15, 2022
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.875%			4.875%
Percentage of face value price for issuance of senior notes	99.178%
Deferred financing fees, expensed	$ 11,600
Interest payable dates				January 15 and July 15

Debt (Carrying And Principal Va

Debt (Carrying And Principal Values Of Debt) (Details) - USD ($)	Oct. 14, 2015	Oct. 15, 2014	Apr. 18, 2013	Aug. 09, 2012	Apr. 16, 2010	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jul. 01, 2014	Sep. 28, 2012	Jul. 13, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 8,570,000,000	$ 8,555,000,000
Fair Value						8,599,571,000	8,525,291,000
Carrying Value						8,472,270,000	8,452,070,000
Less: current maturities of long-term debt						(20,000,000)	(20,000,000)
Total long-term debt, net of current maturities						8,452,270,000	$ 8,432,070,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						20,000,000
Fair Value						20,000,000
Carrying Value						$ 20,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date						Feb. 5, 2020
5.625% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 500,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Fair Value						517,500,000	521,250,000
Carrying Value						$ 495,258,000	494,955,000
Debt instrument, maturity date						Oct. 1, 2019
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						5.625%			5.625%
5.75% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 800,000,000	800,000,000
Fair Value						822,000,000	832,000,000
Carrying Value						$ 791,666,000	791,243,000
Debt instrument, maturity date						Jul. 15, 2020
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						5.75%				5.75%
4.875% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 750,000,000	750,000,000
Fair Value						755,625,000	744,375,000
Carrying Value						$ 735,497,000	735,010,000
Debt instrument, maturity date						Jul. 15, 2022
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage						4.875%		4.875%
2010-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 550,000,000	550,000,000
Fair Value						554,169,000	558,223,000
Carrying Value						$ 548,594,000	548,268,000
Debt instrument, maturity date					Apr. 9, 2042	Apr. 11, 2017
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage					5.101%
2012-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 610,000,000	610,000,000
Fair Value						611,562,000	611,879,000
Carrying Value						$ 604,952,000	604,229,000
Debt instrument, maturity date				Dec. 9, 2042		Dec. 11, 2017
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				2.933%
2013-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 425,000,000	425,000,000
Fair Value						420,793,000	416,959,000
Carrying Value						$ 421,513,000	421,099,000
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 9, 2043			Apr. 10, 2018
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			2.24%
2013-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 575,000,000	575,000,000
Fair Value						572,395,000	565,541,000
Carrying Value						$ 566,774,000	566,523,000
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 9, 2048			Apr. 11, 2023
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.722%
2013-1D Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 330,000,000	330,000,000
Fair Value						335,240,000	332,676,000
Carrying Value						$ 327,240,000	326,918,000
Debt instrument, maturity date			Apr. 9, 2043			Apr. 10, 2018
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			3.598%
2014-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 920,000,000	920,000,000
Fair Value						912,410,000	910,368,000
Carrying Value						$ 910,243,000	909,595,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Oct. 11, 2044				Oct. 8, 2019
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		2.898%
2014-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 620,000,000	620,000,000
Fair Value						618,878,000	608,084,000
Carrying Value						$ 612,047,000	611,853,000
Debt instrument, maturity date		Oct. 8, 2049				Oct. 8, 2024
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.869%
2015-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 500,000,000	500,000,000
Fair Value						501,330,000	489,680,000
Carrying Value						$ 489,725,000	489,496,000
Debt instrument, maturity date	Oct. 10, 2045					Oct. 8, 2020
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.156%
2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, maturity date						May 9, 2017
2014 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 1,473,750,000	1,477,500,000
Fair Value						1,466,381,000	1,447,950,000
Carrying Value						$ 1,461,581,000	1,464,774,000
Debt instrument, maturity date						Mar. 24, 2021
2015 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance						$ 496,250,000	497,500,000
Fair Value						491,288,000	486,306,000
Carrying Value						$ 487,180,000	$ 488,107,000
Debt instrument, maturity date						Jun. 10, 2022

Debt (Schedule Of Cash And Non-

Debt (Schedule Of Cash And Non-Cash Interest Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Jul. 01, 2014	Sep. 28, 2012	Jul. 13, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 83,804	$ 77,654
Non-cash Interest	455	280
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	833	1,571
5.625% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 7,031	7,031
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	5.625%			5.625%
5.75% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 11,500	11,500
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	5.75%				5.75%
4.875% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 9,141	9,141
Non-cash Interest	$ 169	161
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	4.875%		4.875%
2010 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ 7,058	7,058
2012 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	4,534	4,531
2013 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	10,804	10,804
2014 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	12,785	12,785
2015 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	3,985
2012-1 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest		1,153
2014 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	12,138	12,125
Non-cash Interest	125	119
2015 Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	4,087
Non-cash Interest	161
Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash Interest	$ (92)	$ (45)

Shareholders' Equity (Details)

Shareholders' Equity (Details) - Class A Common Stock [Member] - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 04, 2015
Current Stock Repurchase Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized	$ 1,000
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorization	650
New Stock Repurchase Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, authorized		$ 1,000
Stock repurchased, value	$ 50
Stock repurchased, shares	0.5
Common stock value per share	$ 98.65

Stock-Based Compensation (Narra

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)$ / shares
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Weighted-average fair value of options granted | $ / shares	$ 19.19
Total intrinsic value for options exercised | $	$ 12.7

Stock-Based Compensation (Sched

Stock-Based Compensation (Schedule Of Assumptions Used To Estimate Fair Value Of Stock Options) (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2014
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Risk free interest rate, Minimum	1.33%	1.31%
Risk free interest rate, Maximum	1.43%	1.45%
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility	20.00%	20.00%
Expected lives	4 years 8 months 12 days	4 years 7 months 6 days

Stock-Based Compensation (Compa

Stock-Based Compensation (Company's Activities With Respect To Its Stock Options) (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Number of Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance | shares	3,794
Number of Shares, Granted | shares	1,337
Number of Shares, Exercised | shares	(203)
Number of Shares, Canceled | shares	(35)
Number of Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance | shares	4,893
Number of Shares Exercisable, Ending Balance | shares	2,015
Number of Shares Unvested, Ending Balance | shares	2,878
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding, Beginning Balance | $ / shares	$ 84.66
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Granted | $ / shares	96.58
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Exercised | $ / shares	33.44
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Canceled | $ / shares	105.54
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Outstanding, Ending Balance | $ / shares	89.89
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Exercisable, Ending Balance | $ / shares	72.53
Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share, Unvested, Ending Balance | $ / shares	$ 102.06
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years), Outstanding at March 31, 2016	5 years 1 month 6 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years), Exercisable at March 31, 2016	3 years 8 months 12 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years), Unvested at March 31, 2016	6 years 1 month 6 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at March 31, 2016 | $	$ 75,392
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at March 31, 2016 | $	61,924
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Unvested at March 31, 2016 | $	$ 13,468

Stock-Based Compensation (Restr

Stock-Based Compensation (Restricted Stock Unit Activity) (Details) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016$ / sharesshares
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]
Number of Units Outstanding, at December 31, 2015 | shares	277
Number of Units, Granted | shares	131
Number of Units, Vested | shares	(107)
Number of Units, Forfeited/Canceled | shares	(4)
Number of Units Outstanding, at March 31, 2016 | shares	297
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share Outstanding, at December 31, 2015 | $ / shares	$ 97.14
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Granted | $ / shares	96.58
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Vested | $ / shares	83.84
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Forfeited/Canceled | $ / shares	104.43
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share Outstanding, at March 31, 2016 | $ / shares	$ 101.59

Segment Data (Narrative) (Detai

Segment Data (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016segment
Segment Data [Abstract]
Number of business segments	2

Segment Data (Segment Reporting

Segment Data (Segment Reporting Information Disclosure) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 399,769	$ 410,094
Cost of revenues		102,595	111,110
Operating profit		297,174	298,984
Selling, general, and administrative	[1]	30,406	29,884
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		3,182	1,339
Asset impairment and decommission costs		6,183	6,822
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		159,801	171,853
Operating income		97,602	89,086
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)		(41,758)	(165,153)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes		55,844	(76,067)
Cash capital expenditures		128,165	122,843
Assets		7,371,644		$ 7,312,980
Domestic Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		315,230	305,950
Cost of revenues		64,475	61,686
Operating profit		250,755	244,264
Selling, general, and administrative		17,998	17,655
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		1,842	476
Asset impairment and decommission costs		6,021	6,594
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		131,393	137,460
Operating income		93,501	82,079
Cash capital expenditures		105,353	91,402
Assets		5,555,952		5,587,476
International Site Leasing Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		59,220	63,777
Cost of revenues		18,287	18,531
Operating profit		40,933	45,246
Selling, general, and administrative		4,385	3,893
Acquisition related adjustments and expenses		1,340	863
Asset impairment and decommission costs		162	228
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		26,877	32,426
Operating income		8,169	7,836
Cash capital expenditures		21,380	21,775
Assets		1,689,109		1,564,496
Site Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		25,319	40,367
Cost of revenues		19,833	30,893
Operating profit		5,486	9,474
Selling, general, and administrative		3,537	2,122
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,025	707
Operating income		924	6,645
Cash capital expenditures		556	1,831
Assets		40,565		56,631
Not Identified by Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Selling, general, and administrative		4,486	6,214
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		506	1,260
Operating income		(4,992)	(7,474)
Other expense (principally interest expense and other expense)		(41,758)	(165,153)
Cash capital expenditures		876	$ 7,835
Assets		$ 86,018		$ 104,377
[1]	Includes non-cash compensation of $7,686 and $6,884 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Earnings Per Share (Narrative)

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015shares
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	4.1
Restricted Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Securities excluded from earnings per share calculation	0.3

Earnings Per Share (Weighted-Av

Earnings Per Share (Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding Used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 53,639	$ (79,030)
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	125,398	129,235
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted shares	726
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	126,124	129,235
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to continuing operations:
Basic	$ 0.43	$ (0.61)
Diluted	$ 0.43	$ (0.61)