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Income and race are becoming less important in U.S. broadband adoption according to The Pew Internet & American Life Project report "Home Broadband Adoption 2007."

The total number of home broadband users this year is about as large as all of Internet users during the first year the survey was conducted in 2000. The Pew findings come after a recent study by the Brookings Institution study that tracked and linked broadband penetration rates and U.S. employment growth.

The Internet Innovation Alliance (IIA), a coalition of non-profit organizations and businesses focused on universal broadband access, says both studies strongly validate the importance of investment in and access to broadband technologies.

"These findings by the Pew Internet Project demonstrate that the adoption of broadband Internet connections continues to rise in the U.S. but there still remain gaps in this adoption curve that must be addressed," said Larry Irving, co-chairman of the Internet Innovation Alliance.

"While tremendous progress has been made in recent years, broadband use in rural areas and among minority groups continues to lag behind the rest of the country, limiting these groups' ability to take full advantage of the many benefits afforded by the internet."

The study found the use of broadband at home by African-American adults rose to 40 percent, up from less than 15 percent in 2005. Thirty-one percent of rural Americans have home broadband connections, compared with 49 percent and 52 percent of suburban and urban residents respectively.

"It is important that we foster a commercial, tax and policy environment that encourages investment and innovation in broadband technologies and their deployment," said Bruce Mehlman, co-chair of the IIA.

"The Pew Internet research demonstrates that we've made important progress toward a more pluralistic consumption of broadband, but highlights the gaps which still exist. The IIA remains committed to working toward universal broadband access."