FARGO (AP) - More North Dakotans are using cell phones but the state still lags behind the national average, state and federal statistics show.

In 2006, 62 percent of North Dakota's population owned a cell phone, compared to 51 percent in 2005.

Nationwide, 73 percent of Americans owned a cell phone in 2006, up from 65 percent the year before.

The statistics were compiled by the North Dakota Public Service Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Census Bureau.

An additional 70,000 North Dakotans subscribed to cell phone service between 2005 and 2006, the largest percentage increase of cell phone use in any state during that time, statistics show.

North Dakota's increase of 11 percentage points from 2005 to 2006 was more than any other state. Connecticut ranked second with a 10 percentage-point increase.

Efforts encouraging wireless providers to build more towers in North Dakota's rural areas have proven effective, which might be a factor in the increase, state Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark said.

"Over the last few years, we've been very aggressive in lobbying cell companies to add service in rural areas," he said. "It's not full coverage by any means, but it's a lot better than it was a few years ago."

But the expanded wireless service isn't enough by itself to explain the state's jump in cell phone users between 2005 and 2006, Clark said.

"Most of the run-up has just simply been a new technology that people want and are getting," he said.

State and federal statistics show North Dakotans' use of cell phones has grown continuously since 2003.

The popularity of wireless technology is starting to level off in North Dakota, Clark said. Only 7,300 additional cell phone users are predicted in the state this year.

"The folks that seem inclined to take it up have already taken it up," Clark said. "While wireless will continue to grow, we won't see the double-digit increases we've seen."