“Operation Bright Eyes” has an appropriate name because it describes the program’s emphasis—Bright House Networks employees looking for suspicious or unusual activity as they go about their normal schedule. Operation Bright Eyes is nearing its sixth anniversary, and is one of the ways we help keep neighborhoods and residents safe.

Bright House Networks field service employees and new employees hired by the company learn about Operation Bright Eyes as part of their orientation. That way, employees working in the community can report any unusual activities they witness while working with the proper local authorities. And everyone in the neighborhood can see the Operation Bright Eyes emblem on the trucks and know that if they need help in summoning assistance, our employees are ready.

Coordination with local law enforcement has been essential to the program’s success. Besides being an essential partner in launching the program in Tampa Bay, and then in Central Florida, law enforcement agencies such as the Polk and Brevard County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Orlando and Melbourne Police Departments are in regular contact with the company to continue Operation Bright Eyes as an important additional public safety support program.

A number of happy results have occurred from difficult situations thanks to the Operation Bright Eyes program, which enabled our technicians in the field to alert local authorities so they could respond appropriately.

Two recent incidents with happy endings illustrate how Operation Bright Eyes can benefit people in the community. In February, Bright House Networks Technician Thomas stopped at a drug store for a convenience break and noticed an elderly lady standing by her car with the hood up in the parking lot. She was looking distraught. Thomas asked her what was wrong, and she told him her car wouldn’t start. A quick scan of the engine compartment showed one of the battery terminals had come loose. Thomas tightened the connection, the car started right up, and the elderly lady was grateful for his help.

In another Operation Bright Eyes moment in February, technician Gene was working on a customer’s service when he heard a woman scream in another part of the home. Rushing to help, Gene found out that she was going into labor. Her husband was still 40 minutes away from home and she was in too much pain to talk on the phone. Gene immediately offered to help by calling 9-1-1. He explained everything to the paramedics, and then waited until the ambulance—and the pregnant woman’s husband—arrived at the home. Everything turned out fine when the woman was taken to the hospital and her baby was born. Besides Gene’s assistance that came from his own sense of caring about others and from following the Operation Bright Eyes guidelines, Bright House Networks also sent a gift basket to the family to welcome their new baby.