Clearwire (NSDQ: CLWR) is having trouble closing a funding gap of $2 billion, which would delay the expansion of its WiMax network and jeopardise its goal of reaching almost half of the US population by 2010. The big problem is that the biggest advantage the network has over LTE is that it will be available sooner—if there’s a delay it erodes the possibility of success (irrespective of arguments that the two technologies are complementary rather than competitive).

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Bloomberg covers the effect of the delay on Clearwire via the effect on its backers. The general tone is that Clearwire needs to prove its viability within the next 12 months: “If their partners walk away from them, then their viability comes into question,” said Pat Becker Jr., who manages $1.6 billion, including Intel shares, at Becker Capital Management. “This is basically a venture capital type of investment. As long as they’re important to *Comcast* and Intel in their overall strategy, I think they have a shot at getting through this.” Intel (NSDQ: INTC) is keen for the technology to encourage purchases of its related equipment and possibly use it as a springboard into the mobile handset market, while Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) is considering using the network to offer a mobile service.