More than 93 million Americans are not connected to high-speed Internet at home, according to a new survey from the Federal Communications Commission.

The two main reasons one-third of the U.S. population doesn’t have high-speed Internet service at home are cost and lack of digital skills, according to the study.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski revealed those disquieting numbers this week as part of the run up to his agency’s delivery of a National Broadband Plan to Congress on March 17th.

The numbers make clear there is a huge “digital divide” all across the country – with those unable to access high-speed Internet placed at a considerable disadvantage in everything from finding a job, health care, education and a host of other essential activities.

“In the 21st century, a digital divide is an opportunity divide, says Genachowski. “To bolster American competitiveness abroad and create the jobs of the future here at home, we need to make sure that all Americans have the skills and means to fully participate in the digital economy.”

The survey found that 35 percent of adult Americans do not have high-speed Internet connections at home -- or approximately 80 million adults and 13 million children over the age of five.

So why do so many people not have high-speed Internet at home? The survey identified three main barriers to adoption, with high costs leading the list: 36 percent of non-adopters, or 28 million adults, said they do not have home broadband because the monthly fee is too expensive (15 percent), they cannot afford a computer, the installation fee is too high (10 percent), or they do not want to enter into a long-term service contract (9 percent).

The survey found high-speed Internet in the home was largely dependent on socioeconomic and ethnic factors.

• Among low-income Americans—those whose annual household incomes fall below $20,000—broadband adoption stands at 40 percent.

• African-Americans and Hispanics trail the average in broadband access, although gaps have narrowed since early 2009.

• 59 percent of African-Americans have broadband at home.

• 49 percent of Hispanics (English and Spanish speaking) have broadband at home.

• For Hispanics who took the survey in Spanish, broad¬band adoption is only 20 percent.

• For Hispanics who opted to take the survey in English, 65 percent have broadband.

We are hopeful the FCC will present an ambitious and comprehensive National Broadband Plan to Congress in a couple of weeks. High-speed Internet has become an essential service that is in many ways just as important as electricity and water.

As such, every American should be able to get affordable high-speed Internet service at home.