A method for transmitting data over an optical communication path, the method comprising: receiving a bitstream for transmission over an optical communication path; selecting a channel model from a plurality of channel models for transmitting a portion of the received bitstream, wherein selecting the channel model is based upon a characteristic of a transmitter and a target bit-error rate given a characteristic of the optical communication path, wherein: the plurality of channel models comprises: a first channel model comprising: a first association between a first bit value with a first transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the first power level; and a second channel model comprising: a second association between the first bit value with a second transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the second power level; and a third association between repeated, consecutive first bit values and a third transmission power level, the repeated, consecutive first bit values being transmitted by transmitting a single bit of the first bit value at the third transmission power level; and transmitting, at the transmitter, the portion of the bitstream according to the selected channel model. receiving a bitstream for transmission over an optical communication path; selecting a channel model from a plurality of channel models for transmitting a portion of the received bitstream, wherein selecting the channel model is based upon a characteristic of a transmitter and a target bit-error rate given a characteristic of the optical communication path, wherein: the plurality of channel models comprises: a first channel model comprising: a first association between a first bit value with a first transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the first power level; and a second channel model comprising: a second association between the first bit value with a second transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the second power level; and a third association between repeated, consecutive first bit values and a third transmission power level, the repeated, consecutive first bit values being transmitted by transmitting a single bit of the first bit value at the third transmission power level; and a first channel model comprising: a first association between a first bit value with a first transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the first power level; and a second channel model comprising: a second association between the first bit value with a second transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the second power level; and a third association between repeated, consecutive first bit values and a third transmission power level, the repeated, consecutive first bit values being transmitted by transmitting a single bit of the first a second association between the first bit value with a second transmission power level, the first bit value being transmitted by transmitting at the second power level; and a third association between repeated, consecutive first bit values and a third transmission power level, the repeated, consecutive first bit values being transmitted by transmitting a single bit of the first bit value at the third transmission power level; and transmitting, at the transmitter, the portion of the bitstream according to the selected channel model.