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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 j7SkxRheBfdRXCd2LpP8MA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-10-016822.txt : 20101202
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-10-016822.hdr.sgml : 20101202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101202174156
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-10-016822
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GORSUN BARRY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189602

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11174
		FILM NUMBER:		101229238

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 N ODEAN BLVD
		STREET 2:		UNIT 1810
		CITY:			DEER FIELD BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33441

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MRV COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887969
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				061340090
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20415 NORDHOFF ST
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187730900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20415 NORDHOFF ST
		CITY:			CHATSWORTH
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91311
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887969</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MRV COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRVC.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189602</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORSUN BARRY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20415 NORDHOFF STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATSWORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91311</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Optical Com Systems</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.66</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-12-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>250000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest in equal 25% installments over a four-year period beginning on 12/01/2011 and are fully vested on 12/01/2014. The options expire ten years from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anne-Marie Frisch, Attorney-In-Fact for Barry R. Gorsun</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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