The NTIA today released a report (pdf) that more closely examines broadband in the United States, showing that 40% of Americans lack a broadband connection. The study was compiled from a Census Bureau survey of about 54,000 households and 129,000 consumers conducted in October of last year. The study found that 35 percent of all households and approximately 40 percent of all persons lacked access to broadband services -- some because they didn't want it -- and some because it wasn't available to them or it was too expensive.

Those numbers of course vary whether we're talking about rural or urban markets. In Urban markets, just 1.1% of users without broadband stated it wasn't available, while 27.6% stated service was "too expensive." In rural markets, 11.1% of users without access claimed service was not available, while 22.3% stated service was too expensive (see graphic, right).

The study also broke down usage patterns by ethnicity and income, finding that while 67 percent of Asian Americans and 66 percent of Caucasians used broadband at home in October, that number drops to 46 percent and 40 percent of Blacks and Hispanics, respectively.

Broadband usage was higher among those aged 18 to 24, and lowest among people 55 and older. Unsurprisingly, broadband usage also differed drastically based on household income, with 89 percent of Americans with an annual household income greater than $150,000 using broadband, compared to 29 percent of Americans with a household income less than $15,000.

Those interested can find the full raw data from the study here at the NTIA website.