Nonprofit TV and internet champion Ralph Potts retiring from Oberlin Cable Co-op

OBERLIN — Ralph Potts, who helped found the nonprofit Oberlin Cable Co-op, is retiring. He's worked for decades to provide low-cost television and internet to the city's residents, and also was a prime force behind the creation of both the Oberlin Business Partnership and The Bridge, the Oberlin Public Library's technology center. "I can't believe it's been 35 years," he said Tuesday night while being honored by City Council. "I came here in 1987 with a dream, I honestly did. And it came true." Potts has broadcast meetings from the back of Council Chambers for the entire duration of his time at Cable Co-op — a service that, along with broadcasting Oberlin Board of Education meetings, he's insisted be free. He thanked Council members for the memories made over thousands of hours in sessions, many serious and others full of laughter. Potts also presented a gift. After years of wearing a 1920s-style swimsuit in the Family Fun Fair dunk tank, he handed it over to fellow dunkee Councilman Kelley Singleton. "It is yours, my friend," he said with a chuckle and a hug, while Singleton groaned. "Ralph is just a really good guy. Everybody he's ever come across, he's had a really great relationship with," said Jay Shrewsbury, who is stepping into the general manager's spot after working with Potts for 22 years. Cable Co-op was founded by people who saw a need for TV service without the hassle of a big provider, he said. They started organizing in 1985 and two years later hired Potts, who had about 15 years of experience at Continental Cable. "The uniqueness of Cable Co-op is that we're member-owned and a nonprofit," said Shrewsbury. Today, the co-op has about 2,200 subscribers, which include about 78 percent of residential households and 82 percent of businesses in the city. Over the years, Potts championed beefing up the co-op's infrastructure as technology progressed and demand grew. The entire system was rebuilt about 20 years ago, said Shrewsbury, who intends to carry on Potts' legacy by again upgrading the system over the next five years. The internet is nothing like it was two decades ago, he said, adding that Oberlin needs more capacity and bandwidth to boost upload and download speeds. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.