The Radiotochka (Radiodot) is interesting in that Soviet and Soviet block governments installed radio where the signal was transmitted over mains wires. This wa

The Radiotochka (Radiodot) is interesting in that Soviet and Soviet block governments installed radio where the signal was transmitted over mains wires. This was cheap to manufacture, regional or even municipal transmissions were easy to make (for example beekeepers could be informed when pesticides are going to be used) and you can only listen to approved radio stations (No Radio Free Europe for example). In workplaces messages from management could also be transmitted, similar utility was also found in barracks. This tech used in the West for sure, but totalitarian regimes found endless utility for it. Surely, it is also the inspiration for 1984s telescreens (in that they couldn't be turned off and they were always suspect of being surveillance devices)