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In the U.S., 53 percent of all households now subscribe to a broadband high-speed Internet service according to the Leichtman Research Group's study " Broadband Access and Services in the Home 2007."

Broadband service now makes up about 72 percent of all home Internet subscriptions, compared to 60 percent in 2006.

 While broadband subscriptions continued to increase in the U.S. in the past year, broadband penetration remains tied to household income.

The study found that 68 percent of all households with annual incomes over $50,000 now have broadband compared to 59 percent last year. Thirty-nine percent of all households with annual incomes under $50,000 receive broadband compared to 27 percent in 2006.

The study also found that 81 percent of all U.S. households have at least one computer, only 56 percent of those with annual incomes under $30,000 have a computer at home. Only 45 percent of households with incomes below $ 30,000 subscribe to an Internet service at home compared to 92 percent of households with incomes above $75,000.

"Nearly three-quarters of households in the US now subscribe to an Internet service, and broadband has grown to account for over 70% of all online subscribers at home," said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc.

"LRG forecasts the total number of broadband subscribers will increase by over 40 million over the next five years."