The past year and a half has seen its ups and downs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but through it all, cable employees have remained steadfast in their commitment to delivering the internet and television services that millions of Americans across the country depend on to continue working, learning, and connecting. As America prepares to celebrate the upcoming Labor Day holiday, it's important to reflect and pay tribute to the numerous field technicians, engineers, customer service agents, television showrunners and producers, and all industry employees who work around the clock to keep these critical services running.
Behind the scenes, broadband field technicians kept on connecting new households and addressing issues through their on-site support during statewide lockdowns, even when their workload nearly doubled. Technicians adapted to the new challenges of using PPE and adhering to safety protocols as they installed free internet for eligible families with school-aged children. Others worked extra hours not only to help set up medical staffers to work from their homes, but also to set up temporary emergency homeless shelters with data and video services. While many people had the ability to stay at home, field technicians were still out setting up the employees of manufacturers and businesses large and small with internet in their homes so that local economies could stay afloat.
As more and more people have gone online to continue a semblance of their lives, internet service providers have also pivoted to alternative no-contact, digital methods of interacting with their customers. Customer experience teams designed new customer experiences by deploying platforms and applications that allow for virtual visits, and empowered their customers to self-install services whenever possible. Customer service representatives experienced a surge of calls and messages during these times as they helped customers adapt to new communication methods.
Then on the television side, cable TV networks have worked through tremendous challenges to continue filming safely and to bring Americans the news and entertainment they count on. Showrunners, directors, and producers have had to navigate a whole new set of travel protocols and regulations. Many talk shows and reality-based programs filmed outside of studios for health and safety reasons. Awards shows and sports specials also found ways to remote in participants to avoid bringing massive crowds together during some of the more dangerous periods of the pandemic. Some shows got creative and incorporated the pandemic into their plotlines, or created virtual sets and digital stages. One show even animated one of their episodes.
But through it all, cable operators and TV networks have never stopped in their quest to overcome the obstacles and challenges the pandemic has thrown their way. Thanks to its dynamic and dedicated workforce, the cable industry continues to explore innovative approaches to bringing the connectivity and entertainment services that help to keep America churning.