Cypherpunks Write Code: Meet The Mind Behind the Most Decentralized Radio Ever

Cypherpunks, as privacy activists, have tried to use cryptography and other software tools to protect that right for everyone in different fields. Eric Blossom, who was an active participant in the cypherpunk mailing lists in the 1990s, decided to apply such a tool to radio and other types of communication. Thanks to his efforts, we now have some interesting ideas and platforms within easy reach.

Blossom’s age and birthplace are likely not public information, as much as his private life isn’t either. However, we can learn some things from his professional path. He’s from California (US), and he got a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in 1980. After that, he worked for the global IT firm HP (Hewlett-Packard) as a consultant, for Clarity Software as a system architect, and collaborated with the Internet Archive as a senior engineer.

However, above all, Blossom has founded or co-founded his own ventures, focusing on secure communication systems. He started with this inclination in 1994, trying to improve privacy in phone calls. The date wasn’t random or coincidental.

Privacy for Calls

In 1993, the U.S. government introduced the Clipper Chip, a device for encrypting communications while allowing government access via a "backdoor." This chip was intended to be embedded in consumer devices like phones and computers by manufacturers, who would integrate it during production. Of course, it faced a strong backlash over privacy concerns and fears of abuse. By 1996, public pressure and technical vulnerabilities led to its abandonment, but the potential threat was already there.

Blossom decided that something needed to be done about it and designed, built, and sold the “Batphone,” a modem-like telephone privacy device that used cryptography to allow private conversations, even in the presence of wiretaps. Some years later, in 1998, he joined several other entrepreneurs to found the company Starium. This startup would build and sell an improved and smaller version of the first Blossom’s privacy device.

In general terms, Starium aimed to offer affordable, highly secure voice encryption for businesses and individuals. Their flagship product, the Starium 100, was a compact, portable device enabling end-to-end voice encryption between any two telephones. Using advanced encryption methods and two AA batteries, it ensured untappable communications without affecting voice quality. Users simply connected the device to their phone and pressed a button for instant security.

Despite its innovative technology and notable advisors, Starium didn't survive for long. By 2001, the company ceased operations. That’s when Blossom would move to create what’s now considered his magnum opus: GNU Radio.

GNU Radio

This open-source and free software began in 2001 with funding from another notable cypherpunk, John Gilmore, who provided $320,000 to Eric Blossom to develop the system and manage the project. Initially forked from MIT’s Pspectra code, the toolkit quickly evolved, with a complete rewrite in 2004, making it an entirely standalone project. Early initiatives by the project’s team included creating an ATSC receiver and later integrating the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP), developed by Matt Ettus, as compatible hardware for the platform.

The platform enables users to build software-defined radios (SDRs) and signal-processing systems by connecting reusable "blocks" into flowgraphs. These blocks handle specific tasks, like demodulation or filtering, allowing users to design complex radio systems with minimal hardware. Applications range from academic research to real-world communication systems, supported by tools like GNU Radio Companion (GRC), a graphical interface that simplifies the coding process.

Blossom stepped down as a lead maintainer of the software in 2010, leaving the reins to Tom Rondeau. GNU Radio became part of the non-profit SETI Institute in 2020 for organizational support. Today, in 2024, it remains an active open-source project, continuously updated and widely used by hobbyists, researchers, and industries worldwide to innovate in wireless communication technologies.

Decentralization in Radio

GNU Radio also has a political side, as well as a hint of rebellion. Radio and communication systems historically operated in a highly centralized manner, with regulatory bodies and large companies controlling infrastructure, frequencies, and broadcast content. Centralization ensured standardized communication, but it limited innovation and individual access to transmission tools.

The introduction of technologies like GNU Radio and Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) challenged this norm by enabling anyone to build versatile, software-controlled communication systems, fostering decentralization. As Blossom discussed in a report, “A centralized system limits the rate of innovation,” he created and promoted this software with the potential to inspire more decentralized communication systems.

This was despite the hurdles they faced back in the day. In 2004, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed rules limiting the sale of certain technologies like high-speed digital-to-analog converters, citing security concerns. Similarly, initiatives like the Broadcast Flag sought to restrict receiver designs to prevent unauthorized content usage. These measures often align with the interests of industries such as entertainment, which fear losing control over digital rights management.

However, regulations on decentralized communications have become more favorable over time. Decentralization in communication continues to grow, supported by open-source projects —even including some Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) in the mix. This reduces the likelihood of censorship and surveillance for everyone.

Decentralization Beyond Radio

Today, in a world full of attempts at surveillance and censorship, precisely, it seems more important than ever to resort to decentralized platforms —and not only for radio. Obyte is a fully decentralized and open-source Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform that offers robust solutions for a wide variety of applications. Built on a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure, Obyte eliminates the need for miners and “validators”, creating a more secure, censorship-resistant ecosystem.

In the realm of decentralized communications, we can find a built-in encrypted chat within the Obyte wallet. This secure, peer-to-peer (P2P) communication system allows users to share data, funds, and even human-readable smart contracts privately, without relying on centralized servers. Whether for casual communication or more complex transactions, Obyte ensures that all interactions remain confidential and protected.

For developers looking to create innovative, decentralized apps, Obyte also provides a useful environment. The platform’s flexibility and security make it an ideal choice for anyone who wants to build the next generation of decentralized applications. As Eric Blossom once said: “Cypherpunks write code. There’s nobody stopping you from doing it.”

Read more from Cypherpunks Write Code series:

• Tim May & Crypto-anarchism
• Wei Dai & B-money
• Nick Szabo & Smart Contracts
• Adam Back & Hashcash
• Eric Hughes & Remailer
• St Jude & Community Memory
• Julian Assange & Wikileaks
• Hal Finney & RPOW
• John Gilmore & EFF
• Satoshi Nakamoto & Bitcoin
• Gregory Maxwell & Bitcoin Core
• David Chaum & Ecash
• Vinay Gupta & Mattereum
• Jim Bell & Assassination Politics
• Peter Todd & Bitcoin Core
• Len Sassaman & Remailers
• Eva Galperin Against Stalkerware

Featured Vector Image by Garry Killian / Freepik

Photograph of Eric Blossom from GNU Radio / YouTube