A programmable three-port fiber-optic attenuator is introduced using a small tilt micromirror device. Each port can be assigned to function as the input or the output port. Key features via the macro-pixel approach include digital control, alignment tolerance, and high speed, Experimental proof of concept demonstration using a two dimensional digital micromirror device (DMD(TM)) shows a 37.8 dB dynamic range at the output port and a measured 20.4 dB maximum optical attenuation at the monitoring port with an 11-bit resolution, The measured optical loss at the output port is 8 dB and is limited by the visible design DMD(TM) the freespace coupling efficiency. and a fiber adapter. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.A programmable three-port fiber-optic attenuator is introduced using a small tilt micromirror device. Each port can be assigned to function as the input or the output port. Key features via the macro-pixel approach include digital control, alignment tolerance, and high speed, Experimental proof of concept demonstration using a two dimensional digital micromirror device (DMD(TM)) shows a 37.8 dB dynamic range at the output port and a measured 20.4 dB maximum optical attenuation at the monitoring port with an 11-bit resolution, The measured optical loss at the output port is 8 dB and is limited by the visible design DMD(TM) the freespace coupling efficiency. and a fiber adapter. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.