In one embodiment, there is provided a printed circuit board including a first rigid circuit board layer having a first signal trace arrayed on it, a second rigid circuit board layer having a second signal trace arrayed on it, a first signal path coupled between the first signal trace and the second signal trace, an electrostatic discharge device located between the first rigid circuit board layer and the second rigid circuit board layer, the electrostatic discharge device having a first electrode coupled to the first signal path, an electrostatic discharge reactance layer coupled to the first electrode, and a second electrode coupled to the electrostatic discharge layer but not coupled to the first signal path. The circuit board also having a ground plane, where the ground plane is coupled to the second electrode.