Rumor: SureWest may be a Google acquisition target

Rumors swirled Monday that Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) might have its eye on (Nasdaq: SURW) SureWest Communications as a possible acquisition target, pumping up the service providers share price about 7 percent in early trading. The report is based on a Drexel Hamilton note that the deal would lower Google's costs to expand its fiber network build in Kansas City.

SureWest has been steadily pushing its FTTH build in Olathe, Kan., which, coincidentally, is just down the road from Google's proposed 1 Gbps service.

Google, meanwhile, has run into delays, according to the Kansas City Star, and is butting heads with officials over where it can hang its fiber, and what the fees will be.

The delay could be a long one. A partner like SureWest could potentially make those problems go away.

For more:
- see this Steet Insider report
- see this Kansas City Star report

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