Electrical connector and transmission line for maintaining impedance

An electrical connector comprises a lead frame (160) having a mounting edge (152) and a mating edge (104) and a dielectric support (176,177,178) disposed within the lead frame. A signal conductor (162B) is held within the lead frame and extends between the mounting edge and the mating edge. The signal conductor (162B) has an enclosed section traversing the dielectric support (176,177,178) and an exposed section (195) extending beyond the dielectric support (176,177,178). The signal conductor (162B) has cross-sectional dimensions that remain substantially constant throughout a length of the signal conductor. A ground conductor (162C) extends adjacent to the signal conductor (162B). The ground conductor (162C) is contoured such that an outer surface of the ground conductor (162C) is spaced a first distance from the exposed section (195) of the signal conductor (162B) and is spaced a second distance from the enclosed section of the signal conductor (162B).