Texas Summer Camps Win 2026 Fiber Rule Reprieve as State Allows Alternative Emergency Systems
Updated
Updated · 25 News KXXV and KRHD · May 11
Texas Summer Camps Win 2026 Fiber Rule Reprieve as State Allows Alternative Emergency Systems
5 articles · Updated · 25 News KXXV and KRHD · May 11
A new agreement with Texas lets summer camps operate in the 2026 season without fiber-optic internet if they use other emergency communication systems.
The dispute grew out of youth camp safety rules passed after the deadly July 2025 floods, which required fiber connections plus backup communications.
Nineteen long-standing camps sued in Austin, arguing rural sites cannot be punished for missing infrastructure that is unavailable in parts of Texas.
Camp leaders said many facilities already rely on radios, satellite links and other rural-ready tools, and that the deal preserves camp access for thousands of children this summer.
Lawmakers are expected to revisit the requirement in the next legislative session as Texas weighs stricter safety standards against rural infrastructure limits.
Will the new camp safety agreement hold up if another disaster strikes Texas this summer?
After its fatal failures sparked new laws, what does Camp Mystic's silence mean for accountability?