<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 1997
                        Registration No. 33-_________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C.  20549
                    --------------------------------------
                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                    --------------------------------------
                             CINCINNATI BELL INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
       Ohio                                                31-1056105
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer 
incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)



                            201 East Fourth Street
                            Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                (513) 397-9900
    (Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive office)
                    --------------------------------------
                             CINCINNATI BELL INC. 
               1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                           (Full title of the plan)
                    --------------------------------------
                             William H. Zimmer III
                           Secretary and Treasurer
                           201 East Fourth Street
                            Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                (513) 397-9900
       (Name, address including zip code, and telephone number including
                       area code, of agent for service)
                    --------------------------------------
                   Please send copies of all communications to:

                              Neil Ganulin, Esq.
                                Frost & Jacobs
                               2500 PNC Center
                             201 East Fifth Street
                            Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                (513) 651-6800
                    --------------------------------------
                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of       Amount       Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum    Amount of
Securities     To be        Offering Price      Aggregate Offering  Registration
To be          Registered   Per Share(1)        Price               Fee
Registered 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Shares,
Par value
$1.00 Per      600,000         $ 58.313           $ 34,987,800      $ 10,602.36
share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) pursuant to Rule 457(h)(i), based 
upon the average of the high and low prices per share on the New York Stock    
Exchange on May 27, 1997, solely for the purpose of calculation of the    
registration fee.


<PAGE>


                                  Part II
            INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

    The following documents have been filed by Cincinnati Bell Inc. (the
"Company") with the Commission (File No. 1-8519) and are incorporated herein by
reference:


1.  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
    1996.

2.  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31,
    1997.

3.  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 1997.


All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Subsequently
Filed Documents"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part of this Registration
Statement from the date of filing such documents.

    Any statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent
that a statement contained herein or in any Subsequently Filed Document modifies
or supersedes such statement.  Any such modified or superseded statement shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

    The Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, to
each person to whom a copy of this Registration Statement is delivered, a copy
of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, not including
exhibits to such documents.  Requests for such copies should be directed to the
Secretary, Cincinnati Bell Inc., 201 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202,
telephone number (513) 397-7700.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

    The following is a summary description of the capital stock of the Company
and is qualified by reference to the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation
(the "Articles") as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (see
Exhibit 3.1 to this Registration Statement).

    The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 480,000,000 common
shares, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Shares"), and 5,000,000 preferred
shares, without par value (the "Preferred Shares"), of which 4,000,000 are
voting preferred shares (the 


                                     II-1


<PAGE>

"Voting Preferred Shares").  At April 30, 1997, 67,840,709 Common Shares were 
outstanding.  There are currently no Preferred Shares outstanding.  The Board 
of Directors approved a two-for-one share split that was effected by issuing 
one additional Common Share for each Common Share outstanding at May 2, 1997.

    All Common Shares of the Company are entitled to participate equally in
such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the Company and
upon liquidation of the Company, subject to the prior rights of any Preferred
Shares.  All Common Shares are fully paid and nonassessable.

    Each shareholder has one vote for each Common Share registered in the
shareholder's name.  The Board of Directors is divided into three classes as
nearly equal in size as the total number of directors constituting the Board
permits.  The number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time by
the shareholders or the directors.

    The Board of Directors is authorized to issue the Preferred Shares from
time to time in series and to fix the dividend rate and dividend dates,
liquidation price, redemption rights and redemption prices, sinking fund
requirements, conversion rights, restrictions, if any, on the creation of
indebtedness and on the issuance of such Preferred Shares, and certain other
rights, preferences and limitations.  Each series of Preferred Shares would
rank, with respect to dividends and redemption and liquidation rights, senior to
the Common Shares.  It is not possible to state the actual effect of the
authorization of any series of Preferred Shares upon the rights of holders of
the Common Shares until the Board of Directors determines the rights of the
holders of one or more series of Preferred Shares.  However, such effects could
include (a) restrictions on dividends on the Common Shares, (b) dilution of the
voting power of the Common Shares to the extent that the Voting Preferred Shares
have voting rights or (c) inability of the Common Shares to share in the
Company's assets upon liquidation until satisfaction of any liquidation
preference granted to the Preferred Shares.

    No holders of shares of any class of the Company's capital stock have
pre-emptive rights nor the right to exercise cumulative voting in the election
of directors.

    The transfer agent and registrar of the Common Shares is The Fifth Third
Bank, Corporate Trust Services, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio
45236.

CHANGE IN CONTROL

    The following provisions of the Company's Articles and Ohio law might have
the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the
Company and would operate only with respect to an extraordinary corporate
transaction, such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of
assets or liquidation involving the Company and certain persons described below.

    Ohio law provides that the approval of two-thirds of the voting power of a
corporation is required to effect mergers and similar transactions, to adopt
amendments to the articles of incorporation of a corporation and to take certain
other significant actions.  Although under Ohio law the articles of
incorporation of a corporation may permit such actions to be taken by a vote
that is less than two-thirds (but not less than a majority), the Company's
Articles do not 


                                     II-2

<PAGE>

contain such a provision.  The two-thirds voting requirement tends to make
approval of such matters, including further amendments to the Articles,
relatively difficult and a vote of the holders of in excess of one-third of the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company would be sufficient to prevent
implementation of any of the corporate actions mentioned above.  In addition,
Article Fifth classifies the Board of Directors into three classes of directors
with staggered terms of office and the Company's Amended Regulations provide
certain limitations on the removal from and filling of vacancies in the office
of director.

    Article Sixth of the Articles requires that certain minimum price
requirements and procedural safeguards be observed by a person or entity after
he or it becomes the holder of 10% or more of the voting shares of the Company
if such person or entity seeks to effect mergers or certain other business
combinations ("Business Combinations") that could fundamentally change or
eliminate the interests of the remaining shareholders.  If such requirements and
procedures are not complied with, or if the proposed Business Combination is not
approved by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are
unaffiliated with the new controlling person or entity (taking into account
certain special quorum requirements), the proposed Business Combination must be
approved by the holders of 80% of the outstanding Common Shares and outstanding
Voting Preferred Shares of the Company (collectively, "Voting Shares"), voting
together as a class, notwithstanding any other class vote required by law or by
the Articles.  In the event the price criteria and procedural requirements are
met or the requisite approval by such unaffiliated directors (taking into
account certain special quorum requirements) is given with respect to a
particular Business Combination, the normal voting requirements of Ohio law
would apply.

    In addition, Article Sixth of the Articles provides that the affirmative
vote of the holders of 80% of the Voting Shares, voting as a single class, shall
be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with,
Article Sixth.  An 80% vote is not required to amend or repeal, or adopt a
provision inconsistent with, Article Sixth if the Board of Directors has
recommended such amendment or other change and if, as of the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to vote thereon, no person is known by
the Board of Directors to be the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Voting
Shares, in which event the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the
Voting Shares, voting as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal,
or adopt a provision inconsistent with, Article Sixth.

    Ohio, the state of the Company's incorporation, has enacted Ohio Revised
Code Section 1701.831, a "control share acquisition" statute, and Chapter 1704,
a "merger moratorium" statute.  The control share acquisition statute basically
provides that any person acquiring shares of an "issuing public corporation"
(which definition the Company meets) in any of the following three ownership
ranges must seek and obtain shareholder approval of the acquisition transaction
that first puts such ownership within each such range: (i) more than 20% but
less than 33 1/3%; (ii) 33 1/3% but not more than 50%; and (iii) more than 50%.

    The merger moratorium statute provides that, unless a corporation's
articles of incorporation or regulations otherwise provide, an "issuing public
corporation" (which definition the Company meets) may not engage in a "Chapter
1704 transaction" for three years following the date on which a person acquires
more than 10% of the voting power in the 


                                     II-3

<PAGE>

election of directors of the issuing corporation, unless the "Chapter 1704
transaction" is approved by the corporation's board of directors prior to such
voting power acquisition.  A person who acquires such voting power is an
"interested shareholder", and "Chapter 1704 transactions" involve a broad range
of transactions, including mergers, consolidations, combinations, liquidations,
recapitalizations and other transactions between an "issuing public corporation"
and an "interested shareholder" if such transactions involve 5% of the assets or
shares of the "issuing public corporation" or 10% of its earning power.  After
the initial three year moratorium, Chapter 1704 prohibits such transactions
absent approval by disinterested shareholders or the transaction meeting certain
statutorily defined fair price provisions.

    Ohio has also enacted a "greenmailer disgorgement" statute which provides
that a person who announces a control bid must disgorge profits realized by that
person upon the sale of any equity securities within 18 months of the
announcement.

    In addition, Ohio has a "control bid" statute that provides for the
dissemination of certain information and the possibility of a hearing concerning
compliance with law in connection with a proposed acquisition of more than 10%
of any class of equity securities of a corporation, such as the Company, that
has significant contacts with Ohio.

    On March 3, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend
distribution of one right ("Right") on each of the Company's outstanding Common
Shares to holders of record of the Common Shares at the close of business on May
2, 1997 (the "Record Date").  One Right also will be distributed for each Common
Share issued after May 2, 1997, until the Distribution Date (which is described
in the next paragraph).  Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company a unit ("Unit") consisting of one two-hundredth of a Series A
Preferred Share of the Company (the "Preferred Shares") at a purchase price of
$62.50 per Unit, subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price").  The terms of the
Rights are more fully described in a Form 8-A for Registration of Certain
Classes of Securities Pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, which has previously been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference herein.  See Exhibit 4.1 to
this Registration Statement.

    Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Share certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Shares and the
"Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (a) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
or (b) 10 business days following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange
offer that would if consummated result in a person or group beneficially owning
15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares.

    The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on May 2, 2007, unless earlier redeemed by the Company
as described below.

    After the Distribution Date, the separate Rights Certificates alone will
represent the Rights.  Except for certain issuances in connection with
outstanding options and convertible 


                                     II-4

<PAGE>

securities and as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, only Common
Shares issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

    If a person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Common
Shares ("Flip-In Event"), each holder of a Right will have the right to receive,
upon exercise, Common Shares having a value equal to two times the Purchase
Price of the Right.  Moreover, the Rights will not be exercisable until the
Rights are no longer redeemable as described below.  The Acquiring Person would
not be permitted to exercise any Rights and any Rights held by such person (or
certain transferees of such person) will be null and void and non-transferable.

    If, following the Distribution Date, the Company is acquired in certain
specified mergers or other business combinations (i.e., the Company does not
survive or its Common Shares are changed or exchanged), or 50% or more of its
assets or earning power (on a consolidated basis) is sold or transferred in one
transaction or a series of related transactions ("Flip-Over Events"), each Right
becomes a Right to acquire common stock of the other party to the transaction
(or its ultimate parent in certain circumstances) having a value equal to two
times the Purchase Price.  As an enforcement mechanism, the Rights Agreement
prohibits the Company from entering into any such transaction unless the other
party agrees to comply with the provisions of the Rights.  

    In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $0.005 per Right, at any time prior to a Flip-In Event.  Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the $0.005 redemption price.

    Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

    The issuance of the Rights may have certain anti-takeover effects and
possible disadvantages.  The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person
or group who attempts to acquire the Company or a significant Common Share
ownership interest without conditioning the offer on the Rights being redeemed
or a substantial number of Rights being acquired.  Accordingly, an Acquiring
Person might decide not to acquire the Company or such an interest, although
individual shareholders may view such an acquisition favorably.  In addition, to
the extent that issuance of the Rights discourages takeovers that would result
in a change in the Company's management or Board of Directors, such a change
will be less likely to occur.  The Board of Directors believes, however, that
the advantages of discouraging potentially discriminatory and abusive takeover
practices outweigh any potential disadvantages of the Rights.  The Rights should
not interfere with any merger or other Business Combination approved by the
Board of Directors.  The Rights are designed to protect shareholders against
unsolicited attempts to acquire control of the Company, whether through
accumulation of Common Shares in the open market or partial or two-tier tender
offers, that do not offer a fair price to all shareholders.


                                     II-5

<PAGE>
ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMES EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

    Not applicable.


ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    There are no provisions in the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation
by which an officer or director  may be indemnified against any liability which
he or she may incur in his or her capacity as such.  However, the Company has
indemnification provisions in its Amended Regulations which provide the Company
will, to the full extent permitted by Ohio law, indemnify all persons whom it
may indemnify thereto.

    Reference is made to Section 1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code which
provides for indemnification of directors and officers in certain circumstances.

    The foregoing references are necessarily subject to the complete text of
the Amended Regulations and the statute referred to above and are qualified in
their entirety by reference thereto.

    The Company provides liability insurance for its directors and officers for
certain losses arising from certain claims and charges, including claims and
charges under the Securities Act of 1933, which may be made against such persons
while acting in their capacities as directors and officers of the Company.


ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.


ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

    The Exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are described in
the Exhibit Index included in this filing.


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

(1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

    (a)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the securities
         registered hereunder are being made, a post-effective amendment to
         this registration statement:


                                     II-6

<PAGE>

    (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
         Securities Act of 1933;

   (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
         effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent
         post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
         aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
         in the registration statement;

  (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
         distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement
         or any material change to such information in the registration
         statement;

    provided; however, that this undertaking will only apply to the extent that
    the information in clauses (i) - (ii) hereof is not contained in periodic
    reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
    the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration
    statement.

    (b)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
         offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
         shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (c)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
         of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
         termination of the offering.

    (2)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (3)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.  In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses 


                                     II-7

<PAGE>

incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issues.


                                     II-8

<PAGE>

                             SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Cincinnati and State of Ohio, on the 30th day of
May, 1997.

                                  CINCINNATI BELL INC.


                                  By /s/ Brian C. Henry
                                     ________________________________
                                      Brian C. Henry
                                      Executive Vice President and 
                                      Chief Financial Officer

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

Principal Executive Officer:

/s/ John T. LaMacchia
--------------------------------------
John T. LaMacchia
President and Chief Executive Officer

Principal Accounting and Financial Officer

/s/ Brian C. Henry
--------------------------------------
Brian C. Henry
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer

Directors:

John F. Barrett
Phillip R. Cox
William A. Friedlander
Roger L. Howe
Robert P. Hummel, M.D.
James D. Kiggen
John T. LaMacchia
Charles S. Mechem, Jr.
Mary D. Nelson


                                     II-9

<PAGE>

James F. Orr
Brian H. Rowe
David B. Sharrock

                                  By: /s/ Brian C. Henry
                                     ------------------------------------
                                      Brian C. Henry as attorney in fact
                                      for each Director and on his own
                                      behalf as Principal Accounting and
                                      Financial Officer

                                  May 30, 1997



                                   II-10

<PAGE>

                                EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit       Description                                            Page

3.1      The Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation are hereby
         incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement
         on Form S-8 for the Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Long Term Incentive 
         Plan filed on June 3, 1997  

3.2      The Company's Amended Regulations are hereby incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
         Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Long Term Incentive Plan filed on June 3,
         1997 

4.1      The Company's Rights Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8A filed on May 1,
         1997      

5        Opinion of Frost & Jacobs LLP 

23.1     Consent of Frost & Jacobs LLP (contained in Exhibit 5) 


23.2     Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.     

24       Powers of Attorney  

24.1     Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors


                                   II-11

416000.02
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 28681}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CINCINNATI BELL INC /OH/", "cik": "0000716133", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "311056105", "state-of-incorporation": "OH", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-28385", "film-number": "97618570"}, "business-address": {"street1": "201 E FOURTH ST 102 732", "city": "CINCINNATI", "state": "OH", "zip": "45202", "phone": "5133979900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 2301", "city": "CINCINNATI", "state": "OH"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CBI INC", "date-changed": "19830814"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 1997
                        Registration No. 33-_________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C.  20549
                    --------------------------------------
                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                    --------------------------------------
                             CINCINNATI BELL INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
       Ohio                                                31-1056105
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer 
incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

                            201 East Fourth Street
                            Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                (513) 397-9900
    (Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive office)
                    --------------------------------------
                             CINCINNATI BELL INC. 
               1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                           (Full title of the plan)
                    --------------------------------------
                             William H. Zimmer III
                           Secretary and Treasurer
                           201 East Fourth Street
                            Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                (513) 397-9900
       (Name, address including zip code, and telephone number including
                       area code, of agent for service)
                    --------------------------------------
                   Please send copies of all communications to:

                              Neil Ganulin, Esq.
                                Frost & Jacobs
                               2500 PNC Center
                             201 East Fifth Street
                            Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                                (513) 651-6800
                    --------------------------------------
                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of       Amount       Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum    Amount of
Securities     To be        Offering Price      Aggregate Offering  Registration
To be          Registered   Per Share(1)        Price               Fee
Registered 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Shares,
Par value
$1.00 Per      600,000         $ 58.313           $ 34,987,800      $ 10,602.36
share
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) pursuant to Rule 457(h)(i), based 
upon the average of the high and low prices per share on the New York Stock    
Exchange on May 27, 1997, solely for the purpose of calculation of the    
registration fee.
Part II
            INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

    The following documents have been filed by Cincinnati Bell Inc. (the
"Company") with the Commission (File No. 1-8519) and are incorporated herein by
reference:

1.  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
    1996.

2.  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31,
    1997.

3.  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 1997.

All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Subsequently
Filed Documents"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part of this Registration
Statement from the date of filing such documents.

    Any statement contained in this Registration Statement or in a document
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent
that a statement contained herein or in any Subsequently Filed Document modifies
or supersedes such statement.  Any such modified or superseded statement shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

    The Company will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, to
each person to whom a copy of this Registration Statement is delivered, a copy
of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, not including
exhibits to such documents.  Requests for such copies should be directed to the
Secretary, Cincinnati Bell Inc., 201 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202,
telephone number (513) 397-7700.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

    The following is a summary description of the capital stock of the Company
and is qualified by reference to the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation
(the "Articles") as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (see
Exhibit 3.1 to this Registration Statement).

    The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 480,000,000 common
shares, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Shares"), and 5,000,000 preferred
shares, without par value (the "Preferred Shares"), of which 4,000,000 are
voting preferred shares (the 

                                     II-1
"Voting Preferred Shares").  At April 30, 1997, 67,840,709 Common Shares were 
outstanding.  There are currently no Preferred Shares outstanding.  The Board 
of Directors approved a two-for-one share split that was effected by issuing 
one additional Common Share for each Common Share outstanding at May 2, 1997.

    All Common Shares of the Company are entitled to participate equally in
such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors of the Company and
upon liquidation of the Company, subject to the prior rights of any Preferred
Shares.  All Common Shares are fully paid and nonassessable.

    Each shareholder has one vote for each Common Share registered in the
shareholder's name.  The Board of Directors is divided into three classes as
nearly equal in size as the total number of directors constituting the Board
permits.  The number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time by
the shareholders or the directors.

    The Board of Directors is authorized to issue the Preferred Shares from
time to time in series and to fix the dividend rate and dividend dates,
liquidation price, redemption rights and redemption prices, sinking fund
requirements, conversion rights, restrictions, if any, on the creation of
indebtedness and on the issuance of such Preferred Shares, and certain other
rights, preferences and limitations.  Each series of Preferred Shares would
rank, with respect to dividends and redemption and liquidation rights, senior to
the Common Shares.  It is not possible to state the actual effect of the
authorization of any series of Preferred Shares upon the rights of holders of
the Common Shares until the Board of Directors determines the rights of the
holders of one or more series of Preferred Shares.  However, such effects could
include (a) restrictions on dividends on the Common Shares, (b) dilution of the
voting power of the Common Shares to the extent that the Voting Preferred Shares
have voting rights or (c) inability of the Common Shares to share in the
Company's assets upon liquidation until satisfaction of any liquidation
preference granted to the Preferred Shares.

    No holders of shares of any class of the Company's capital stock have
pre-emptive rights nor the right to exercise cumulative voting in the election
of directors.

    The transfer agent and registrar of the Common Shares is The Fifth Third
Bank, Corporate Trust Services, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio
45236.

CHANGE IN CONTROL

    The following provisions of the Company's Articles and Ohio law might have
the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the
Company and would operate only with respect to an extraordinary corporate
transaction, such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of
assets or liquidation involving the Company and certain persons described below.

    Ohio law provides that the approval of two-thirds of the voting power of a
corporation is required to effect mergers and similar transactions, to adopt
amendments to the articles of incorporation of a corporation and to take certain
other significant actions.  Although under Ohio law the articles of
incorporation of a corporation may permit such actions to be taken by a vote
that is less than two-thirds (but not less than a majority), the Company's
Articles do not 

                                     II-2
contain such a provision.  The two-thirds voting requirement tends to make
approval of such matters, including further amendments to the Articles,
relatively difficult and a vote of the holders of in excess of one-third of the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company would be sufficient to prevent
implementation of any of the corporate actions mentioned above.  In addition,
Article Fifth classifies the Board of Directors into three classes of directors
with staggered terms of office and the Company's Amended Regulations provide
certain limitations on the removal from and filling of vacancies in the office
of director.

    Article Sixth of the Articles requires that certain minimum price
requirements and procedural safeguards be observed by a person or entity after
he or it becomes the holder of 10% or more of the voting shares of the Company
if such person or entity seeks to effect mergers or certain other business
combinations ("Business Combinations") that could fundamentally change or
eliminate the interests of the remaining shareholders.  If such requirements and
procedures are not complied with, or if the proposed Business Combination is not
approved by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are
unaffiliated with the new controlling person or entity (taking into account
certain special quorum requirements), the proposed Business Combination must be
approved by the holders of 80% of the outstanding Common Shares and outstanding
Voting Preferred Shares of the Company (collectively, "Voting Shares"), voting
together as a class, notwithstanding any other class vote required by law or by
the Articles.  In the event the price criteria and procedural requirements are
met or the requisite approval by such unaffiliated directors (taking into
account certain special quorum requirements) is given with respect to a
particular Business Combination, the normal voting requirements of Ohio law
would apply.

    In addition, Article Sixth of the Articles provides that the affirmative
vote of the holders of 80% of the Voting Shares, voting as a single class, shall
be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with,
Article Sixth.  An 80% vote is not required to amend or repeal, or adopt a
provision inconsistent with, Article Sixth if the Board of Directors has
recommended such amendment or other change and if, as of the record date for the
determination of shareholders entitled to vote thereon, no person is known by
the Board of Directors to be the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the Voting
Shares, in which event the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the
Voting Shares, voting as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal,
or adopt a provision inconsistent with, Article Sixth.

    Ohio, the state of the Company's incorporation, has enacted Ohio Revised
Code Section 1701.831, a "control share acquisition" statute, and Chapter 1704,
a "merger moratorium" statute.  The control share acquisition statute basically
provides that any person acquiring shares of an "issuing public corporation"
(which definition the Company meets) in any of the following three ownership
ranges must seek and obtain shareholder approval of the acquisition transaction
that first puts such ownership within each such range: (i) more than 20% but
less than 33 1/3%; (ii) 33 1/3% but not more than 50%; and (iii) more than 50%.

    The merger moratorium statute provides that, unless a corporation's
articles of incorporation or regulations otherwise provide, an "issuing public
corporation" (which definition the Company meets) may not engage in a "Chapter
1704 transaction" for three years following the date on which a person acquires
more than 10% of the voting power in the 

                                     II-3
election of directors of the issuing corporation, unless the "Chapter 1704
transaction" is approved by the corporation's board of directors prior to such
voting power acquisition.  A person who acquires such voting power is an
"interested shareholder", and "Chapter 1704 transactions" involve a broad range
of transactions, including mergers, consolidations, combinations, liquidations,
recapitalizations and other transactions between an "issuing public corporation"
and an "interested shareholder" if such transactions involve 5% of the assets or
shares of the "issuing public corporation" or 10% of its earning power.  After
the initial three year moratorium, Chapter 1704 prohibits such transactions
absent approval by disinterested shareholders or the transaction meeting certain
statutorily defined fair price provisions.

    Ohio has also enacted a "greenmailer disgorgement" statute which provides
that a person who announces a control bid must disgorge profits realized by that
person upon the sale of any equity securities within 18 months of the
announcement.

    In addition, Ohio has a "control bid" statute that provides for the
dissemination of certain information and the possibility of a hearing concerning
compliance with law in connection with a proposed acquisition of more than 10%
of any class of equity securities of a corporation, such as the Company, that
has significant contacts with Ohio.

    On March 3, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend
distribution of one right ("Right") on each of the Company's outstanding Common
Shares to holders of record of the Common Shares at the close of business on May
2, 1997 (the "Record Date").  One Right also will be distributed for each Common
Share issued after May 2, 1997, until the Distribution Date (which is described
in the next paragraph).  Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company a unit ("Unit") consisting of one two-hundredth of a Series A
Preferred Share of the Company (the "Preferred Shares") at a purchase price of
$62.50 per Unit, subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price").  The terms of the
Rights are more fully described in a Form 8-A for Registration of Certain
Classes of Securities Pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, which has previously been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference herein.  See Exhibit 4.1 to
this Registration Statement.

    Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Share certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Shares and the
"Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (a) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
or (b) 10 business days following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange
offer that would if consummated result in a person or group beneficially owning
15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares.

    The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on May 2, 2007, unless earlier redeemed by the Company
as described below.

    After the Distribution Date, the separate Rights Certificates alone will
represent the Rights.  Except for certain issuances in connection with
outstanding options and convertible 

                                     II-4
securities and as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, only Common
Shares issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

    If a person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Common
Shares ("Flip-In Event"), each holder of a Right will have the right to receive,
upon exercise, Common Shares having a value equal to two times the Purchase
Price of the Right.  Moreover, the Rights will not be exercisable until the
Rights are no longer redeemable as described below.  The Acquiring Person would
not be permitted to exercise any Rights and any Rights held by such person (or
certain transferees of such person) will be null and void and non-transferable.

    If, following the Distribution Date, the Company is acquired in certain
specified mergers or other business combinations (i.e., the Company does not
survive or its Common Shares are changed or exchanged), or 50% or more of its
assets or earning power (on a consolidated basis) is sold or transferred in one
transaction or a series of related transactions ("Flip-Over Events"), each Right
becomes a Right to acquire common stock of the other party to the transaction
(or its ultimate parent in certain circumstances) having a value equal to two
times the Purchase Price.  As an enforcement mechanism, the Rights Agreement
prohibits the Company from entering into any such transaction unless the other
party agrees to comply with the provisions of the Rights.  

    In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $0.005 per Right, at any time prior to a Flip-In Event.  Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the
Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the $0.005 redemption price.

    Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.

    The issuance of the Rights may have certain anti-takeover effects and
possible disadvantages.  The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person
or group who attempts to acquire the Company or a significant Common Share
ownership interest without conditioning the offer on the Rights being redeemed
or a substantial number of Rights being acquired.  Accordingly, an Acquiring
Person might decide not to acquire the Company or such an interest, although
individual shareholders may view such an acquisition favorably.  In addition, to
the extent that issuance of the Rights discourages takeovers that would result
in a change in the Company's management or Board of Directors, such a change
will be less likely to occur.  The Board of Directors believes, however, that
the advantages of discouraging potentially discriminatory and abusive takeover
practices outweigh any potential disadvantages of the Rights.  The Rights should
not interfere with any merger or other Business Combination approved by the
Board of Directors.  The Rights are designed to protect shareholders against
unsolicited attempts to acquire control of the Company, whether through
accumulation of Common Shares in the open market or partial or two-tier tender
offers, that do not offer a fair price to all shareholders.

                                     II-5
ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMES EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

    Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    There are no provisions in the Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation
by which an officer or director  may be indemnified against any liability which
he or she may incur in his or her capacity as such.  However, the Company has
indemnification provisions in its Amended Regulations which provide the Company
will, to the full extent permitted by Ohio law, indemnify all persons whom it
may indemnify thereto.

    Reference is made to Section 1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code which
provides for indemnification of directors and officers in certain circumstances.

    The foregoing references are necessarily subject to the complete text of
the Amended Regulations and the statute referred to above and are qualified in
their entirety by reference thereto.

    The Company provides liability insurance for its directors and officers for
certain losses arising from certain claims and charges, including claims and
charges under the Securities Act of 1933, which may be made against such persons
while acting in their capacities as directors and officers of the Company.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

    Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

    The Exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are described in
the Exhibit Index included in this filing.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

(1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

    (a)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the securities
         registered hereunder are being made, a post-effective amendment to
         this registration statement:

                                     II-6
(i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
         Securities Act of 1933;

   (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
         effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent
         post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
         aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
         in the registration statement;

  (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
         distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement
         or any material change to such information in the registration
         statement;

    provided; however, that this undertaking will only apply to the extent that
    the information in clauses (i) - (ii) hereof is not contained in periodic
    reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
    the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration
    statement.

    (b)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
         offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
         shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (c)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
         of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
         termination of the offering.

    (2)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (3)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.  In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses 

                                     II-7
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issues.

                                     II-8
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Cincinnati and State of Ohio, on the 30th day of
May, 1997.

                                  CINCINNATI BELL INC.

                                  By /s/ Brian C. Henry
                                     ________________________________
                                      Brian C. Henry
                                      Executive Vice President and 
                                      Chief Financial Officer

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

Principal Executive Officer:

/s/ John T. LaMacchia
--------------------------------------
John T. LaMacchia
President and Chief Executive Officer

Principal Accounting and Financial Officer

/s/ Brian C. Henry
--------------------------------------
Brian C. Henry
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer

Directors:

John F. Barrett
Phillip R. Cox
William A. Friedlander
Roger L. Howe
Robert P. Hummel, M.D.
James D. Kiggen
John T. LaMacchia
Charles S. Mechem, Jr.
Mary D. Nelson

                                     II-9
James F. Orr
Brian H. Rowe
David B. Sharrock

                                  By: /s/ Brian C. Henry
                                     ------------------------------------
                                      Brian C. Henry as attorney in fact
                                      for each Director and on his own
                                      behalf as Principal Accounting and
                                      Financial Officer

                                  May 30, 1997

                                   II-10
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit       Description                                            Page

3.1      The Company's Amended Articles of Incorporation are hereby
         incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement
         on Form S-8 for the Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Long Term Incentive 
         Plan filed on June 3, 1997  

3.2      The Company's Amended Regulations are hereby incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 for the
         Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Long Term Incentive Plan filed on June 3,
         1997 

4.1      The Company's Rights Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8A filed on May 1,
         1997      

5        Opinion of Frost & Jacobs LLP 

23.1     Consent of Frost & Jacobs LLP (contained in Exhibit 5) 

23.2     Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.     

24       Powers of Attorney  

24.1     Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors

                                   II-11

416000.02