A large number of viewpoints exist regarding the nature of the electron-phonon (e-ph) interaction in the high-Tc cuprates, covering the spectrum from primary pairing mediator in polaronic scenarios all the way to playing a negligible role. Recently this issue has been prominent in the context of a set of low-energy renormalizations observed in the electronic structure of the cuprates by various spectroscopies - such as angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy - where the e-ph interaction has been proposed as a possible interpretation. In this talk I will discuss a current view of the e-ph interaction involving a spectrum optical and acoustic oxygen modes as inferred from studying these renormalizations. Here, emphasis will be placed on the interplay of the phonons with the long-range Coulomb interaction which gives rise to a non-trivial momentum and doping dependent e-ph interaction. This aspect is particularly important for describing the dispersion renormalizations at low energies (~8-15 meV) and has a number consequences for pairing and transport. Finally I will discuss where in the spectrum of viewpoints these results place our understanding of phonons as well as their implications for the underdoped cuprates.