A circuit board assembly of an information handling system has stepped diameter vias that carry communication signals through printed circuit board (PCB) substrates. Each stepped diameter via has a first barrel portion of a first diameter that is drilled through a first portion of the PCB substrates and that is at least lined with a conductive material to electrically conduct a selected one of: (i) a direct current and (ii) a communication signal from an outer layer to an internal layer of the more than one PCB substrate. Each stepped diameter via further includes a second barrel portion that extends from the first barrel portion deeper into the PCB substrates. The second barrel portion has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter and the smaller second diameter improves signal integrity (SI).