System and method for measurement of PMD over wavelength

A system for compensating polarization mode dispersion of optical signals in an optical transmission line. The device includes first and second optical lines and a polarization splitter adapted to be operably connected to an optical transmission line. The polarization splitter is configured to split the principle states of polarization of an optical signal from the optical transmission line into first and second optical signal components that travel along the first and second optical lines, respectively. The device includes a stretcher that is configured to selectively vary the length of at least a selected one of the first and second optical lines. A controller is operatively connected to the stretcher, and controls the stretcher to compensate for polarization mode dispersion present in the optical transmission line. The device also includes an optical output line and a polarization combiner operatively connected to the first and second optical lines. The polarization combiner is adapted to combine the polarized optical signal components into an optical signal and route the output signal to the optical output line.