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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 cunu7wIz1dUoDU6d980hhg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-10-017481.txt : 20101214
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-10-017481.hdr.sgml : 20101214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101214160354
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-10-017481
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101214

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Shubin Stein Kenneth H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001345051

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11174
		FILM NUMBER:		101250718

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1995 BROADWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1801
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10023

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>2010-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001345051</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shubin Stein Kenneth H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>20415 NORDHOFF STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHATSWORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91311</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>464046</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dr. Shubin Stein's sale of MRV Communications, Inc.'s common stock reported herein was matchable under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to the extent of 1,000 shares, with the reporting person's purchase of 936 shares at a price of $1.27 per share, and 64 shares at a price of $1.28 per share each on June 15, 2010. Even though the shares were only held indirectly through a managed fund, Dr. Shubin Stein has paid MRV Communications, Inc. $459.36, representing the full amount of the profit realized in connection with the short-swing transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Dr. Shubin Stein beneficially owns 128,133 shares of common stock of MRV Communications, Inc. directly. In addition, he has sole trading and voting discretions as the managing member of Spencer Capital Management, LLC, which manages various accounts that hold 335,913 shares of MRV Communications, Inc. common stock including the reported transaction above. As the managing member of Spencer Capital Management, LLC, Dr. Shubin Stein may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the 335,913 shares held in the managed accounts. Dr. Shubin Stein claims beneficial ownership of any of the shares included in this report to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anne-Marie Frisch, Attorney-In-Fact for Kenneth H. Shubin Stein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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