We show that the structure inab‐plane infrared spectra of the oxide superconductors can be understood in terms of the electron‐phonon interaction. The minima in the optical conductivity seen in the oxygen breathing mode region translate to peaks in the frequency dependent scattering rate. The position and the width of the peaks are in reasonable agreement with structure seen in time‐of‐flight neutron spectroscopy. We interpret the appearance of phonon modes in the highly metallicab‐plane in terms of a charged phonon model borrowed from the theory of organic conductors.