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): OCTOBER 30, 1997


                            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 October 30, 1997,  Optical Cable  Corporation (the "Company")  announced
that the Board of Directors of the Company had  authorized  the repurchase of up
to $5 million of the  Company's  common stock 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 October 30,
               1997.



                                       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 10th day of November, 1997.



                           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 October 30, 1997.....




                                       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": "97711815"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5290 CONCOURSE DR", "city": "ROANOKE", "state": "VA", "zip": "24019"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5290 CONCOURSE DRIVE", "street2": "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): OCTOBER 30, 1997

                            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 October 30, 1997,  Optical Cable  Corporation (the "Company")  announced
that the Board of Directors of the Company had  authorized  the repurchase of up
to $5 million of the  Company's  common stock 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 October 30,
               1997.

                                       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 10th day of November, 1997.

                           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 October 30, 1997.....

                                       4