In 2007, high-speed internet penetration will for the first time reach 50 percent of U.S. households - which means 60 million residential broadband subscribers.

By the end of 2007, high-speed internet penetrations is expected to reach 50.2 percent in the U.S., up from 2006's 43.9 percent, and will grow to nearly 63 percent in 2010, according to eMarketer's estimates.

Moreover, an increasing number of broadband households are using their speedy connections for value-added services such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP), internet protocol TV (IPTV), and paid audio and video content.

As of 3Q06, nine million U.S. households had at least one active VoIP user, according to high-tech research firm In-Stat. Also, 49 percent of current residential VoIP users report that they had discontinued their traditional phone services when after beginning to use VoIP services.