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.











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                                    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













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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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

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


















                                        4
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


NEWS                                  RE:   OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
BULLETIN                                    5290 Concourse Drive
                                            Roanoke, VA 24019
FRB                                         (Nasdaq: OCCF)

The Financial Relations Board, Inc.
For further information

AT THE COMPANY                                 AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD:
- --------------                                 ---------------------------------
Robert Kopstein         Ken Harber             Alison Ziegler -- General Info.
Chairman & CEO          VP of Finance          Jordan Darrow -- Analyst Info.
(540) 265-0690          (540) 265-0690         Claudine Cornelis - Media Info.
kopstein@occfiber.com   kharber@occfiber.com   (212) 661-8030




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                      OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION AUTHORIZES
                      ------------------------------------
                      EXPANSION OF STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM
                      -------------------------------------



     ROANOKE,  Virginia -- April 7, 1998 -- Optical Cable  Corporation  (Nasdaq:
OCCF)  today  announced  that  its  Board  of  Directors  has  amended  it stock
repurchase  plan to allow the  repurchase  of up to $10 million of the Company's
common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions over the
next twelve months.  The Company's  original  plan,  authorized in October 1997,
allowed for the repurchase of up to $5 million of common stock.

     Robert  Kopstein,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  stated,  "The
decision to repurchase our shares reflects management's  continued confidence in
our business and in our  strengthening  global  position  within the fiber optic
cable industry.  Although our second fiscal quarter does not end until April 30,
1998, we are encouraged by  primilinary  indications of improvement in sales and
gross  margins.  Sales for the first two months of the quarter have exceeded the
comparable 1997 fiscal period by approximately 27% and our gross margin reflects
a 1%  improvement  from first  quarter  levels.  In  addition,  orders have been
firming in our large  projects,  as well as the  geophysical and oil exploration
areas."

     Optical Cable Corporation,  which is celebrating its 15 year anniversary in
1998,  manufactures  and markets a broad  range of fiber optic  cables for "high
bandwidth"  transmission of data, video and audio  communications  over moderate
distances.  Optical  Cable  Corporation's  cables can be used both  indoors  and
outdoors and utilize a tight-buffered coating that protects the optical fiber.



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     Note: This news release  contains  certain forward looking  statements that
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially  from those  protected or  forecasted.  Such risks and  uncertainties
include,  but are not limited to, those disclosed in the Company's Annual Report
and Form 10-K for fiscal year 1997.






     NOTE: Further information on Optical Cable Corporation is available through
our website on the World Wide Web at http://www.occfiber.com.



        To receive additional information on Optical Cable Corporation,
                   via fax, at no charge, dial 1-800-PRO-INFO
                              and enter code OCCF.






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