Exhibit 23



                              ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT



The Board of Directors
Optical Cable Corporation


         We consent to incorporation by reference in Registration  Statement No.
33-09433 on Form S-8 of Optical Cable  Corporation  of our report dated December
12, 1997,  relating to the balance  sheets of Optical  Cable  Corporation  as of
October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related  statements of income,  stockholders'
equity,  and cash  flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period  ended
October 31, 1997, which report is included in the October 31, 1997 Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Optical Cable Corporation.




                                                   KPMG Peat Marwick LLP





Roanoke, Virginia
January 29, 1998