SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  ------------


                                    FORM 8-K



                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):    APRIL 7, 1998

                            OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

       VIRGINIA                       0-27022                    54-1237042
(State of incorporation)       (Commission file number)      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

  5290 CONCOURSE DRIVE                                       (540) 265-0690
   ROANOKE, VA, 24019                                        (Telephone Number)
   (Address of principal
   executive offices)


<PAGE>
ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On April 7, 1998,  Optical Cable Corporation (the "Company")  announced
that the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  expanded  the  Company's  stock
repurchase  plan by  authorizing  the  repurchase  of an  aggregate of up to $10
million of the Company's  common stock,  which is an increase of $5 million from
the $5 million in stock  repurchases  authorized  by the Board of  Directors  in
October 1997.  The  repurchases  will be made in the open market or in privately
negotiated  transactions.  A copy of the press  release  announcing  this  stock
repurchase authorization is filed as an exhibit to this Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)   Exhibits.

               99.1 Press release of Optical  Cable Corporation,  dated April 7,
                    1998.











                                        2
<PAGE>
                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  the  report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 13th day of April, 1998.

                                      OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Kenneth W. Harber
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Kenneth W. Harber
                                          Vice President of Finance,
                                          Treasurer and Secretary













                                        3
<PAGE>
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Document                                                                Page No.
--------                                                                --------

99.1  Press release of Optical Cable Corporation, dated April 7, 1998...


















                                        4
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "OPTICAL CABLE CORP", "cik": "0001000230", "assigned-sic": "3357", "irs-number": "541237042", "state-of-incorporation": "VA", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27022", "film-number": "98596783"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5290 CONCOURSE DR", "city": "ROANOKE", "state": "VA", "zip": "24019", "phone": "5402650690"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5290 CONCOURSE DRIVE", "city": "ROANOKE", "state": "VA", "zip": "24019"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  ------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):    APRIL 7, 1998

                            OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

       VIRGINIA                       0-27022                    54-1237042
(State of incorporation)       (Commission file number)      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

  5290 CONCOURSE DRIVE                                       (540) 265-0690
   ROANOKE, VA, 24019                                        (Telephone Number)
   (Address of principal
   executive offices)
ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On April 7, 1998,  Optical Cable Corporation (the "Company")  announced
that the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  expanded  the  Company's  stock
repurchase  plan by  authorizing  the  repurchase  of an  aggregate of up to $10
million of the Company's  common stock,  which is an increase of $5 million from
the $5 million in stock  repurchases  authorized  by the Board of  Directors  in
October 1997.  The  repurchases  will be made in the open market or in privately
negotiated  transactions.  A copy of the press  release  announcing  this  stock
repurchase authorization is filed as an exhibit to this Report on Form 8-K.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (c)   Exhibits.

               99.1 Press release of Optical  Cable Corporation,  dated April 7,
                    1998.

                                        2
SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  the  report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 13th day of April, 1998.

                                      OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Kenneth W. Harber
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Kenneth W. Harber
                                          Vice President of Finance,
                                          Treasurer and Secretary

                                        3
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Document                                                                Page No.
--------                                                                --------

99.1  Press release of Optical Cable Corporation, dated April 7, 1998...

                                        4