<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-17-000003.txt : 20170228
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-17-000003.hdr.sgml : 20170228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170228170824
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-17-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170228

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADTRAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000926282
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				630918200
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 EXPLORER BLVD
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35806
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2569638220

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		901 EXPLORER BLVD
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35806

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Melone Anthony J.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001507363

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24612
		FILM NUMBER:		17649040

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1095 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 8TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000926282</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADTRAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADTN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001507363</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Melone Anthony J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>901 EXPLORER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35806</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31.468</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                    <value></value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25.903</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25.903</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9.201</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>9.201</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16.702</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Settlement of dividend equivalent rights in connection with lapse of restriction on restricted stock.  The rights accrued when and as dividends were paid on the Company's common stock and are paid in whole shares of common stock with the remainder paid in cash. Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of the Company's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents settlement of dividend equivalent rights that accrued on February 16, 2017, in accordance with the terms of the ADTRAN, Inc. 2010 Directors Stock Plan, although the restrictions on the shares of restricted stock lapsed on February 8, 2017, resulting in immediate settlement of such dividend equivalent rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents all of the Dividend Equivalent Rights held by the reporting person.  The reporting person's Form 4, filed on August 15, 2016, incorrectly reported an accrual of 10.889 Dividend Equivalent Rights, however, 10.951 Dividend Equivalent Rights should have been reported and the reporting person's Form 4, filed on January 4, 2017, incorrectly reported an accrual of 9.866 Dividend Equivalent Rights, however, 9.963 Dividend Equivalent Rights should have been reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The dividend equivalent rights accrued when and as dividends were paid on the Company's common stock. Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of the Company's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gayle S. Ellis, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
