A device placed into a telephone circuit between the end office and the subscriber to step up the voltage and compensate for signal loss due to bridged taps. The load coil is an inductive device that acts as a high-frequency choke and must be removed if the line is converted to high-speed digital use. As digital service (digital loop carrier) is moved closer to the customer and the analog lines become shorter, load coils are no longer required. See bridged tap.