An optical communication system, device, and method are disclosed. An illustrative optical communication system is disclosed to include a carrier Integrated Circuit (IC) chip having an amplifier circuit, a bias plane, and a ground plane. The amplifier circuit, bias plane, and the ground plane may each operate at or above a nominal voltage of zero volts. A laser diode may be integrated with an electro-absorption modulator into a single IC chip, where the laser diode is mounted on the carrier IC chip and is electrically connected with the amplifier circuit of the carrier IC chip through a bond wire.