In its updated broadband report, Leichtman Research Group found that at the beginning of 2005 broadband penetration of households in the U.S. stood at close to 29 percent nationwide, and that disparities in penetration are largely related to variations in household income across the states. Interestingly, the breakdowns are strikingly similar to the state-by-state splits in the 2004 presidential election, reports the Center for Media Research (via MediaBuyerPlanner).

The eight states with broadband penetration over 35 percent all voted for John Kerry in 2004, and the 11 states with 20 percent or less broadband penetration voted for George Bush in 2004.

Cumulative broadband penetration in states that voted for Kerry was 33 percent, compared with 25 percent in states that voted for Bush.