<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2010-08-18</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0001051470</issuerCik>        <issuerName>CROWN CASTLE INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>CCI</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001192209</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>MCKENZIE ROBERT F</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>1220 AUGUSTA</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>1</isDirector>            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>0</isOther>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock $0.01 Par Value</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-08-18</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>15000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>24.69</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>A</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>55928</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock $0.01 Par Value</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-08-18</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>15000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>6.21</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>A</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>70928</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Common Stock $0.01 Par Value</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-08-18</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>30000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>40.10</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>40928</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <derivativeTable>        <derivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase Common Stock)</value>            </securityTitle>            <conversionOrExercisePrice>                <value>24.69</value>            </conversionOrExercisePrice>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-08-18</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>15000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>0</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <exerciseDate>                <value>2001-02-22</value>            </exerciseDate>            <expirationDate>                <value>2011-02-22</value>            </expirationDate>            <underlyingSecurity>                <underlyingSecurityTitle>                    <value>Common Stock</value>                </underlyingSecurityTitle>                <underlyingSecurityShares>                    <value>15000</value>                </underlyingSecurityShares>            </underlyingSecurity>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>0</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </derivativeTransaction>        <derivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Stock Option (right to purchase Common Stock)</value>            </securityTitle>            <conversionOrExercisePrice>                <value>6.21</value>            </conversionOrExercisePrice>            <transactionDate>                <value>2010-08-18</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>15000</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>0</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>D</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <exerciseDate>                <value>2002-02-28</value>            </exerciseDate>            <expirationDate>                <value>2012-02-28</value>            </expirationDate>            <underlyingSecurity>                <underlyingSecurityTitle>                    <value>Common Stock</value>                </underlyingSecurityTitle>                <underlyingSecurityShares>                    <value>15000</value>                </underlyingSecurityShares>            </underlyingSecurity>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>0</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </derivativeTransaction>    </derivativeTable>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>/s/ Robert F. McKenzie</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2010-08-18</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
