The Texas Department of State Health Services has reached an agreement with a group of youth camp operators regarding state requirements for fiber optic internet service at licensed camps, according to a DSHS news release.
Under the agreement, camps that maintain a redundant internet service will not face possible license denial or revocation during the 2026 camping season for lacking fiber optic service, provided they meet all other safety requirements.
DSHS said the agreement will apply to all youth camps seeking license renewal for the 2026 season to ensure camps are treated equally under the policy.
“This agreement will ensure that youth camps in Texas operate with the safety provisions envisioned by the Legislature while allowing camps and families to move forward with their summer plans,” DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford said in the release.
The agreement resolves, for now, a legal dispute between DSHS and a group of camps that sought an injunction against enforcement of a state law requiring camps to maintain broadband internet “using end-to-end fiber optic facilities.”
Under the agreement, alternative broadband options — including cellular, microwave and satellite internet services — may satisfy the requirement if they meet the definition of broadband under Texas law.
The legal proceedings are paused through March 1, 2027, according to DSHS.
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