An active optical cable assembly comprising: a fiber optic cable comprising at least one optical fiber; a host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) optically coupled to the fiber optic cable comprising a host termination impedance coupled to a host input line; a client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) optically coupled to the fiber optic cable comprising a client termination impedance coupled to a client input line; a host connector, wherein the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) is positioned between a first end of the host connector and the fiber optic cable, and the host connector is configured to be removably coupled to a host port of a host device; a client connector, wherein the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) is positioned between a first end of the client connector and the fiber optic cable, and the client connector is configured to be removably coupled to a client port of a client device; characterized by the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) comprises a host termination switch, the host termination switch operable to selectively couple the host termination impedance to a ground reference potential; the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) comprises a client termination switch, the client termination switch operable to selectively couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; wherein upon a connection between the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) and a host device, the client termination switch closes to couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; and upon a connection between the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) and a client device, the host termination switch closes to the couple the host termination impedance to the ground reference potential. a fiber optic cable comprising at least one optical fiber; a host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) optically coupled to the fiber optic cable comprising a host termination impedance coupled to a host input line; a client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) optically coupled to the fiber optic cable comprising a client termination impedance coupled to a client input line; a host connector, wherein the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) is positioned between a first end of the host connector and the fiber optic cable, and the host connector is configured to be removably coupled to a host port of a host device; a client connector, wherein the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) is positioned between a first end of the client connector and the fiber optic cable, and the client connector is configured to be removably coupled to a client port of a client device; characterized by the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) comprises a host termination switch, the host termination switch operable to selectively couple the host termination impedance to a ground reference potential; the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) comprises a client termination switch, the client termination switch operable to selectively couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; wherein upon a connection between the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) and a host device, the client termination switch closes to couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; and upon a connection between the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) and a client device, the host termination switch closes to the couple the host termination impedance to the ground reference potential. upon a connection between the host active circuit (120, 121, 121', 820, 830) and a host device, the client termination switch closes to couple the client termination impedance to the ground reference potential; and upon a connection between the client active circuit (220, 221, 221', 920, 930) and a client device, the host termination switch closes to the couple the host termination impedance to the ground reference potential.