Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows are calling on state health officials to provide relief for summer camps struggling to comply with a new broadband infrastructure requirement that camp operators say could cost millions of dollars.
The issue centers on a recently enacted camp safety law that requires licensed youth camps to maintain redundant internet capabilities, including fiber-optic broadband service, as part of expanded emergency preparedness standards adopted after last year’s deadly flooding disasters.
Camp operators, particularly in rural parts of Texas, argue the fiber requirement is unrealistic because many properties do not currently have access to fiber infrastructure. Some camps say installation costs alone could exceed their annual operating budgets.
In a joint statement, Patrick and Burrows said camps that meet all other safety requirements and maintain reliable emergency communication systems should still be eligible to operate this summer, even if they do not yet have fiber service in place. The leaders acknowledged that other technologies may be capable of satisfying the law’s intended purpose until lawmakers revisit the issue during the next legislative session in 2027.
The controversy comes as many camps remain in licensing limbo just weeks before summer programs are scheduled to begin. According to reports, only a small number of camps had received updated licenses as of early May.
Some camp operators have already filed lawsuits against the Texas Department of State Health Services, arguing the requirement places an unfair burden on rural facilities where fiber infrastructure is unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Supporters of the broadband requirement argue reliable communication systems are critical during emergencies and natural disasters, especially in remote areas where camps may face severe weather threats. Camp leaders, however, say they support improved safety standards but believe the current fiber mandate needs more flexibility.
