Patent ID: 8903251

Claim:
An Optical Network Unit (ONU), the ONU comprising: a receiver module comprising a component and configured to receive a first rate selection signal from an optical line terminal (OLT) prior to receiving a downstream signal from the OLT at a reduced data rate that indicates a reduced rate mode, wherein the first rate selection signal is received in a first frame, and wherein the reduced data rate downstream signal is received in a second frame subsequent to the first frame, wherein the component comprises a feedback amplifier and is configured to transition from a normal operation mode to the reduced rate mode in response to the receiver module receiving the first rate selection signal, wherein the transition comprises adjusting a characteristic of the feedback amplifier, wherein adjusting the characteristic of the feedback amplifier comprises adjusting a supply voltage of the feedback amplifier, wherein operating in the normal operation mode comprises receiving the downstream signal from the OLT at a nominal data rate, and wherein operating in the reduced rate mode comprises receiving the downstream signal from the OLT at the reduced data rate that is less than the nominal data rate but greater than zero.