In-Line Amplifier Facilities

In-Line Amplifier Facilities are telecommunications infrastructure sites positioned along long-haul fiber optic routes that house optical amplifiers boosting degraded light signals to maintain transmission quality over extended distances. These facilities—typically spaced every 60-100 kilometers depending on fiber type and transmission technology—are essential components of backbone fiber networks connecting population centers, submarine cable landing stations, and regional Internet Exchange Points.

The SUCCESS for BEAD Act explicitly lists "in-line amplifier facilities" alongside conduit systems and manholes as eligible infrastructure construction for BEAD remaining amounts. This recognition reflects the reality that middle-mile fiber networks require more than just cable—they require the amplification infrastructure that enables signals to traverse hundreds or thousands of miles without unacceptable degradation.

For states building open-access middle-mile networks or enhancing backbone connectivity to underserved regions, in-line amplifier facilities represent critical investment points where hardening provides outsized resilience benefits. A single amplifier site failure can disrupt connectivity for entire regions served by that fiber route. Hardened amplifier facilities with backup power, physical security, and environmental controls ensure backbone networks maintain operations during extended grid outages, natural disasters, or physical attacks on infrastructure.