-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PAzts6M4Qejf3IKliPQtGZpByXkHelSPYSG3w3f0dRq9+2aeNGoycfXX6hBIG8ww
 rS3cfXejoXnj8XPDAi83AQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-07-056269.txt : 20070906
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-07-056269.hdr.sgml : 20070906
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070906181401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-07-056269
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070906
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070906

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TELLABS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000317771
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				363831568
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TELLABS CENTER
		STREET 2:		1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-378-8800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TELLABS CENTER
		STREET 2:		1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Minichiello Thomas P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001411719

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09692
		FILM NUMBER:		071103587

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-798-3062

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd171869.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-09-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000317771</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELLABS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TLAB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001411719</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Minichiello Thomas P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TELLABS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1415 WEST DIEHL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPERVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60563</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Fin. &amp; Chf. Actg. Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.7500</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-09-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-09-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option grant becomes exercisable in annual installments with respect to 33% on September 4, 2008, an additional 33% on September 4, 2009, and an additional 34% on September 4, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Thomas P. Minichiello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----