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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 0P8+Ly5LWyMmhnJE9iMbqA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000906504-04-000013.txt : 20040218
<SEC-HEADER>0000906504-04-000013.hdr.sgml : 20040218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040218164934
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000906504-04-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUYBRECHTS LUKE J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241195

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27022
		FILM NUMBER:		04613694

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OPTICAL CABLE CORP
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 11967
		CITY:			ROANOKE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24022-1967
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5402650690

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OPTICAL CABLE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001000230
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRAWING AND INSULATING NONFERROUS WIRE [3357]
		IRS NUMBER:				541237042
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5290 CONCOURSE DR
		CITY:			ROANOKE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5402650690

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5290 CONCOURSE DRIVE
		CITY:			ROANOKE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			24019
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001000230</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OPTICAL CABLE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OCCF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241195</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUYBRECHTS LUKE J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Purchase Warrants</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-10-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-10-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the &quot;Warrants&quot;) were issued by Optical Cable Corporation pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of October 24, 2002 in furtherance of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against the Company and certain of its then current or former officers and directors.  The Warrants may be exercised in whole or in part at any time or from time to time until October 24, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Luke J. Huybrechts</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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