Optical Cable Corporation Acquires Applied Optical Systems, Inc.

Transaction Broadens OCC's Product Lines and Builds on its Position as a
Leading Provider of Fiber Optic Cables for the Military and Harsh Environment
Markets

ROANOKE, Va., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Optical Cable Corporation
(Nasdaq GM: OCCF) ("OCC") today announced that it has acquired Applied Optical
Systems, Inc. ("AOS"), a designer, developer and manufacturer of specialty
fiber optic connectors and connectivity solutions for military and harsh
environment applications. The acquisition was completed on October 31, 2009,
and Applied Optical Systems is now a wholly owned subsidiary of OCC.

OCC acquired Applied Optical Systems by exercising a warrant issued by AOS in
April 2005 (as amended) for the issuance of new equity and acquiring all of
the remaining capital stock of AOS from AOS's shareholders.

"The acquisition of Applied Optical Systems is another important step forward
in OCC's efforts to provide our customers with more complete cabling and
connectivity solutions. Further, the acquisition of Applied Optical Systems
builds on OCC's strong existing presence in the military and harsh environment
markets," stated Neil Wilkin, President and CEO of Optical Cable Corporation.

Applied Optical Systems' product offering includes specialty fiber optic
connectors and connectivity solutions for military, mining, oil and gas,
industrial, broadcast and other harsh environment applications. AOS is
located near Dallas, Texas, and employs approximately 40 persons, including
engineering, manufacturing and office personnel. AOS's net sales were
approximately $7.0 million (unaudited) for the twelve months ended September
30, 2009.

About Optical Cable Corporation

Optical Cable Corporation is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of fiber
optic and copper data communications cabling and connectivity solutions
primarily for the enterprise market, offering an integrated suite of high
quality, warranted products which operate as a system solution or seamlessly
integrate with other providers' offerings. OCC's product offerings include
designs for uses ranging from commercial, enterprise network, datacenter,
residential and campus installations to customized products for specialty
applications and harsh environments, including military, industrial, mining,
oil and gas and broadcast applications. OCC products include fiber optic
cable, copper and fiber optic connectors, copper and fiber optic patch cords,
racks, cabinets, datacom enclosures, patch panels, face plates, multi-media
boxes and cable and connectivity management accessories, and are designed to
meet the most demanding needs of end-users, delivering a high degree of
reliability and outstanding performance characteristics.

OCC is internationally recognized for pioneering the design and production of
fiber optic cables for the most demanding military field applications, as well
as of fiber optic cables suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, and
creating a broad product offering built on the evolution of these fundamental
technologies. With the acquisition of SMP Data Communications in May 2008,
OCC also is now internationally recognized for its role in establishing copper
connectivity data communications standards, through its innovative and
patented technologies.

Founded in 1983, OCC is headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia with offices and
manufacturing and warehouse facilities located both in Roanoke, Virginia and
near Asheville, North Carolina. OCC primarily manufactures its high quality
fiber optic cables at its ISO 9001:2008 registered and MIL-STD-790F certified
facility located in Roanoke, Virginia and its high quality connectivity
products at its ISO 9001:2000 registered facility located near Asheville,
North Carolina.

Further information about OCC is available on the Internet at
www.occfiber.com.

About Applied Optical Systems, Inc.

Applied Optical Systems, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures a broad range
of specialty fiber optic connectors and connectivity solutions primarily for
use in military and other harsh environment applications. Founded in 2003,
Applied Optical Systems has offices and a manufacturing facility is located in
Plano, Texas, near Dallas. Applied Optical Systems is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Optical Cable Corporation (Nasdaq GM: OCCF).

Further information about AOS is available on the Internet at
www.appliedopticalsystems.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release by Optical Cable Corporation and its subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Company" or "OCC") may contain certain forward-looking
information within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The
forward-looking information may include, among other information, (i)
statements concerning the Company's outlook for the future, (ii) statements of
belief, anticipation or expectation, (iii) future plans, strategies or
anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and statements concerning
matters that are not historical facts. Such forwardlooking information is
subject to variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks that may cause
actual events to differ materially from the Company's expectations.
Additionally, such variables, uncertainties, contingencies and risks may
adversely affect the Company and the Company's future results of operation and
future financial condition. Factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences from the Company's expectations or could adversely affect the
Company, include, but are not limited to: the level of sales to key customers,
including distributors; timing of certain projects and purchases by key
customers; the economic conditions affecting network service providers;
corporate and/or government spending on information technology; actions by
competitors; fluctuations in the price of raw materials (including optical
fiber, copper, gold and other precious metals, and plastics and other
materials affected by petroleum product pricing); fluctuations in
transportation costs; the Company's dependence on customized equipment for the
manufacture of its products and a limited number of production facilities; the
Company's ability to protect its proprietary manufacturing technology; the
Company's ability to replace royalty income as existing patented and licensed
products expire by developing and licensing new products; market conditions
influencing prices or pricing; the Company's dependence on a limited number of
suppliers; the loss of or conflict with one or more key suppliers or
customers; an adverse outcome in litigation, claims and other actions, and
potential litigation, claims and other actions against the Company; an adverse
outcome in regulatory reviews and audits and potential regulatory reviews and
audits; adverse changes in state tax laws and/or positions taken by state
taxing authorities affecting the Company; technological changes and
introductions of new competing products; changes in end-user preferences for
competing technologies, relative to the Company's product offering; economic
conditions that affect the telecommunications sector, certain technology
sectors or the economy as a whole; changes in demand of our products from
certain competitors for which we provide private label connectivity products;
terrorist attacks or acts of war, and any current or potential future
military conflicts; changes in the level of military spending by the United
States government; ability to retain key personnel; inability to recruit
needed personnel; poor labor relations; the inability to successfully
integrate the operations of the Company's new subsidiaries; the impact of
changes in accounting policies, including those by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; the Company's
ability to continue to successfully comply with, and the cost of compliance
with, the provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or any
revisions to that act which apply to the Company; the impact of changes and
potential changes in federal laws and regulations adversely affecting our
business and/or which result in increases in our direct and indirect costs as
we comply with such laws and regulations; impact of future consolidation among
competitors and/or among customers adversely affecting the Company's position
with its customers and/or its market position; actions by customers adversely
affecting the Company in reaction to the expansion of its product offering in
any manner, including, but not limited to, by offering products that compete
with its customers, and/or by entering into alliances with, making investments
in or with, and/or acquiring parties that compete with and/or have conflicts
with customers of the Company; impact of weather or natural disasters in the
areas of the world in which the Company operates and markets its products;
economic downturns and/or changes in market demand, exchange rates,
productivity, or market and economic conditions in the areas of the world in
which the Company operates and markets its products, and the Company's success
in managing the risks involved in the foregoing. The Company cautions readers
that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive and the Company
incorporates by reference those factors included in current reports on Form
8K, in the annual report on Form 10K for the fiscal year ended October 31,
2008, and/or in the Company's other filings.

AT THE COMPANY:

Neil Wilkin Tracy Smith
President & CEO Senior Vice President & CFO
(540) 265-0690 (540) 265-0690
investorrelations@occfiber.com investorrelations@occfiber.com

AT JOELE FRANK, WILKINSON BRIMMER KATCHER:

Andrew Siegel Aaron Palash
(212) 355-4449 ext. 127 (212) 355-4449 ext. 103
asiegel@joelefrank.com apalash@joelefrank.com

SOURCE Optical Cable Corporation

Neil Wilkin, President & CEO, +1-540-265-0690, investorrelations@occfiber.com,
or Tracy Smith, Senior Vice President & CFO, +1-540-265-0690,
investorrelations@occfiber.com, both of Optical Cable Corporation; Andrew
Siegel, +1-212-355-4449 ext. 127, asiegel@joelefrank.com, or Aaron Palash,
+1-212-355-4449 ext. 103, apalash@joelefrank.com, both of Joele Frank,
Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher