- A new congressional group will study wireless policy issues, focusing on spectrum
reform management and ultrawideband (UWB) technology. Digital rights management
and copyright law will also be covered. The concern is that without policy changes, the
U.S. mobile wireless industry will face a shortage of spectrum in the next three to five
years. (Newsbytes, 13 Feb 02)

- United States Open University will close at the end of the spring semester. The
university failed to accumulate enough students to defer its increasing debt. According
to Chancellor Richard S. Jarvis, enrollment was hampered by the school's lack of
accreditation, though approval from the Middle States Association of Colleges and
Schools was imminent. (Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 5 Feb 02)

- The US Commerce Department reports that 54% of the national population -143
million - are using the Web as of September. This is a 26% gain over last year.
Other ratings were somewhat lower. Nielsen/NetRatings for example stated an
increase of 15% or 115.2 million in October. e-Mail, the most popular online activity,
was regularly used by 45% of the population, a 10% increase over 2000. The US
Commerce report also indicates that the digital divide between America's well-to-do and
its poor has started to shrink, increasing use at an annual rate of 25% between December
1998 and September 2001, compared to an 11% increase among the wealthiest citizens.
(Wall Street Journal, 4 Feb 02)