Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)

Reporting Entity [Axis]

0001053507 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	Period [Axis]
	2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax provision from continuing operations	The income tax provision from continuing operations consisted of the following for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):     2016   2015   2014 Current:           Federal $ (26,494 )   $ (73,930 )   $ (2,390 ) State (1,976 )   (21,216 )   (797 ) Foreign (100,074 )   (55,045 )   (57,934 ) Deferred:           Federal (616 )   9,131   (4,180 ) State (259 )   8   (973 ) Foreign (26,082 )   (16,903 )   3,769 Income tax provision $ (155,501 )   $ (157,955 )   $ (62,505 )
Reconciliation between the U.S. statutory rate and the effective rate from continuing operations	Reconciliation between the U.S. statutory rate and the effective rate from continuing operations is as follows for the years ended December 31:     2016   2015   2014 Statutory tax rate 35  %   35  %   35  % Adjustment to reflect REIT status (1) (35 )   (35 )   (35 ) Foreign taxes 5   3   2 Foreign withholding taxes 4   3   3 Uncertain tax positions 5   —   — Change in tax law —   2   — MIPT tax election (2) —   11   — Other —   —   2 Effective tax rate 14  %   19  %   7  % _______________ (1)    Includes 29%, 36% and 24% from dividend paid deductions in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. (2)    Includes federal and state taxes, net of federal benefit.
Components of income from continuing operations before income taxes and income on equity method investments	The domestic and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes are as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):   2016   2015   2014 United States $ 882,552   $ 785,201   $ 857,457 Foreign 243,308   44,761   8,247 Total $ 1,125,860   $ 829,962   $ 865,704
Components of the net deferred tax asset and related valuation allowance	The components of the net deferred tax asset and liability and related valuation allowance were as follows as of December 31, (in thousands):   2016   2015 Assets:       Net operating loss carryforwards $ 278,674   $ 277,977 Accrued asset retirement obligations 130,014   92,295 Stock-based compensation 4,267   3,889 Unearned revenue 29,003   25,654 Unrealized loss on foreign currency 26,883   37,440 Other accruals and allowances 45,578   13,824 Items not currently deductible and other 26,886   17,608 Liabilities:       Depreciation and amortization (942,409 )   (194,230 ) Deferred rent (27,099 )   (20,720 ) Other (9,294 )   (11,077 ) Subtotal (437,497 )   242,660 Valuation allowance (144,397 )   (136,952 ) Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets $ (581,894 )   $ 105,708
Summary of valuation allowance	A summary of the activity in the valuation allowance is as follows (in thousands):     2016   2015   2014 Balance as of January 1,   $ 136,952   $ 141,241   $ 136,006 Additions (1)   14,118   19,512   40,124 Reversals   —   —   (10,769 ) Foreign currency translation   (6,673 )   (23,801 )   (24,120 ) Balance as of December 31,   $ 144,397   $ 136,952   $ 141,241 _______________ (1)    Includes net charges to expense and allowances established through goodwill at acquisition.
Net operating loss carryforwards expire	At December 31, 2016, the Company had net federal, state and foreign operating loss carryforwards available to reduce future taxable income. If not utilized, the Company’s NOLs expire as follows (in thousands):   Years ended December 31, Federal   State   Foreign 2017 to 2021 $ —   $ 59,213   $ 8,950 2022 to 2026 —   388,695   184,611 2027 to 2031 146,763   98,538   — 2032 to 2036 16,604   32,345   — Indefinite carryforward —   —   831,185 Total $ 163,367   $ 578,791   $ 1,024,746
Change in unrecognized tax benefit	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits are as follows for the years ended December 31, (in thousands):     2016   2015   2014 Balance at January 1 $ 28,114   $ 31,947   $ 32,545 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 82,912   5,042   4,187 Additions for tax positions of prior years —   —   3,780 Foreign currency (307 )   (5,371 )   (3,216 ) Reduction as a result of the lapse of statute of limitations and effective settlements (3,168 )   (3,504 )   (5,349 ) Balance at December 31 $ 107,551   $ 28,114   $ 31,947