Decision feedback equalization (dfe) may provide a simple way to dramatically increase the bit rate on multimode optical systems. Computer simulations of digital multimode systems with tapped delay‐line linear equalization and/or dfe are described. Results indicate that with relatively simple hardware it may be possible to increase by many times the usable bit rate on dispersion‐limited optical channels, with a power penalty less than that for multilevel transmission and without the latter's complexity. For example, one could double the bit rate of a two‐level system by paying an equalization power penalty of about 3 dB with dfe, whereas doubling the bit rate by going to four levels requires a penalty of 4.8 dB.