LOS ANGELES — Construction began yesterday on a $1.5 billion project to expand the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport — a facility ranked one of the worst in the nation.

Upgrades to the Tom Bradley International Terminal will include new restaurants, gates and other passenger services, with work expected to be completed by 2013.

Construction wasn't expected to cause any immediate inconvenience to passengers but would likely prompt higher prices since funding will come from airport operating revenues, fees from airlines and passenger facility charges.

The upgrades will bring needed improvements to the world's sixth-busiest airport, which was ranked 19th among 20 large U.S. airports by 12,000 airline passengers.

WIDER WEB ACCESS WILL REQUIRE LESSONS

WASHINGTON — The government's plan to provide fast Internet connections to all Americans will have to include basic instruction in Web 101, according to a new survey of Internet users and non-users.

The Federal Communications Commission's first-ever survey on Internet usage and attitudes concludes that those who aren't yet connected need to be taught how to navigate the Web, find information that is valuable to them and avoid hazards such as scams.

The study, released today, comes less than a month before the FCC is due to hand Congress policy recommendations on how to make affordable, high-speed Internet access a reality for everyone.

The Obama administration has identified universal broadband as critical to driving economic development, producing jobs and expanding the reach of cutting-edge medicine and educational opportunities.

WAL-MART BUYING MOVIE PROVIDER

LOS ANGELES — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said yesterday it will buy broadband entertainment provider Vudu, a deal that gives the world's biggest retailer the ability to sell movies directly through TVs and Blu-ray players over the Internet.

The deal could give Wal-Mart a way to compete with electronics rival Best Buy Co., which partnered with Sonic Solutions in November to offer Roxio CinemaNow movie-downloading software on all Web-connected devices sold in Best Buy's U.S. stores.

Wal-Mart did not disclose the terms of its deal or define its ambitions for the service, which delivers movies to consumers for a price per transaction.

— Advertiser News Services