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About 5.7 million U.S. households will become new high-speed Internet customers this year, a 12 percent decrease in subscriber growth compared to 2008, according to a new forecast by market research firm Pike & Fischer.

The total number of broadband -connected homes will reach nearly 74.5 million by the end of 2009, representing about 63 percent of all U.S. households.

The cable industry will attract about 75 percent of new broadband subscribers. The major phone companies such as Verizon and AT&T are offering new fiber-optic Internet services that can surpass speeds offered by cable, most of their service areas are covered only by DSL service, which consumers are increasingly avoiding because its speeds are slower than cable.

Pike & Fischer bases its forecast on the nations economic crisis, which is leading to consumers spending less on communication services.

Broadband customer growth could exceed forecasts if the incoming Obama administration succeeds in its plan to expand broadband availability as part of a major economic stimulus package, according to Scott Sleek, director of P&F's Broadband Advisory Services.

"Government initiatives, such as tax incentives and loan guarantees to help expand broadband infrastructure into underserved areas, could enable service providers to bolster their customer counts," Sleek said.

"In addition, policy-makers are likely to support training and education programs aimed at increasing customer adoption of broadband. These steps could offset what will be an inevitable slowdown in subscriber growth."