November
5 Meet Dolly Parton, digital rights activist

Think digital spectrum rights are boring? Dolly Parton would like a word with you! Last month, the singer-songwriter wrote an impassioned letter to the Federal Communications Commission asking that they stay a Nov. 4 vote regarding "white spaces," the unused frequencies between TV channels. As John Paczkowski points out, the FCC wants them to create a national broadband network; Parton wants them to remain unsullied for her wireless microphones. "As someone who uses the white spaces and knows the value of them for the work that I and many of my friends do around the country, I ask the FCC to recognize the entertaintnent industry's valuable contribution to the cultural life and economy of this country." Nice try, Dolly; the vote went forward yesterday and the measure passed. Her full letter, here. [Digital Daily]