Systems and methods are provided for modularly constructing a software defined radio ("SDR"). Given an SDR kernel (i.e., a potentially platform-neutral definition of digital signal processing functionality and control operations necessary to implement the core portion of a software defined radio implementing a particular radio standard), an optional description of governmental regulations for a particular locality, and an interface harness providing the necessary components for interfacing to specific communication channels and devices (including SDR hardware components), an SDR factory component performs a process of constructing an SDR software component for implementing a particular radio standard on a particular host. The SDR software component may additionally construct components which restrict the operation of the resulting SDR software component. The SDR kernel may be protected by one or more digital rights management ("DRM") policies which may be enforced both at the time the SDR software component is constructed and while it is operating.