<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-08-28</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001035985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DOBSON COMMUNICATIONS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DCEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000806085</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>745 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<remarks>This form is being filed solely to reflect the Reporting Person&#039;s termination of status as a 10% owner subject to Section 16 as a result of an increase in the number of the Issuer&#039;s outstanding Class A Common Stock.

As of the date hereof, the Reporting Person, through it&#039;s wholly-owned subsidiary Lehman Brothers Inc., a Broker-Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Securities and Exchange Act and Lehman Brothers Inc.&#039;s wholly-owned subsidiary LB I Group Inc., may be deemed to be the owner of 1,931,389 shares of the Issuer&#039;s Class A Common Stock and 2,000,000 of the Issuer&#039;s Options to acquire Class A Common Stock.</remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>/s/ Barrett S. DiPaolo</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

