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):  MARCH 29, 1999

                            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 March 29, 1999,  Optical Cable  Corporation  (the "Company")  announced
that its Board of Directors  expanded the  Company's  stock  repurchase  plan by
authorizing the repurchase of an aggregate of up to $15 million of the Company's
common stock. The Company  originally  announced the authorization to repurchase
with up to $5  million  of the  Company's  common  stock in  October  1997,  and
announced  an increase of the  authorization  to $10 million in April 1998.  The
repurchases will be made in 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 March 29, 1999.




                                       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 2nd day of April, 1999.

                            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
 March 29, 1999.......................................
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2854}]
{"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": "99586648"}, "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):  MARCH 29, 1999

                            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 March 29, 1999,  Optical Cable  Corporation  (the "Company")  announced
that its Board of Directors  expanded the  Company's  stock  repurchase  plan by
authorizing the repurchase of an aggregate of up to $15 million of the Company's
common stock. The Company  originally  announced the authorization to repurchase
with up to $5  million  of the  Company's  common  stock in  October  1997,  and
announced  an increase of the  authorization  to $10 million in April 1998.  The
repurchases will be made in 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 March 29, 1999.

                                       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 2nd day of April, 1999.

                            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
 March 29, 1999.......................................