Clearwire's LA Story

Clearwire LLC (Nasdaq: CLWR) is now hiring in preparation for a "next generation" network deployment in Los Angeles despite its need for additional cash to start going commercial with existing mobile WiMax plans. (See Clearwire's Closing Approaches.)

The company has today posted ads for new jobs related to a "next generation network" deployment in Los Angeles as well as a slew of other sales, support, and customer care roles in its other markets. The operator hasn't yet officially announced network deplyment plans for a mobile WiMax network in Los Angeles. The ads, however, suggest that WiMax is on the agenda for the City of Angels.

In particular, the Kirkland, Wash.-based operator is looking for a director of network deployment and a network deployment project manager.

Clearwire writes that the network director's role will include managing a multimillion-dollar budget to deploy "from the ground up, the next generation of wireless networks." The company's current network deployments, in Portland, Ore., Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Grand Rapids, Mich., are expected to go commercial early in 2009.

The operator hasn't said anything about L.A. plans yet. The ad, however, suggests that the company is looking at a major deployment there.

"This Network Deployment leader will be comfortable developing strategies to effectively build, project manage, deploy and operate multiple regional large scale metropolitan markets," Clearwire writes in the job blurb.

For now, however, the company isn't confirming any new rollouts. "We haven’t announced any additional deployment plans at this time," a company spokeswoman tells Unstrung in an email reply to questions.

The deployment of all these markets hinges on the closure of the company's WiMax asset merger deal with Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) and the $3.2 billion funding from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and others associated with the deal. (See Clearwire's Closing Approaches and Sprint, Clearwire Create $14.5B WiMax Giant.)

Clearwire has reportedly cut back to a skeleton staff in Portland, the first market where the operator is expected to go commercial with mobile WiMax and where more network deployment has been completed. The Daily Wireless blog visited the site and found that "only [six] techs cover the Portland region, setting up Motorola base stations and checking the signal."

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is due to vote on the merger plans on November 4.

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung