A group of 19 camps said the fiber-optic internet that lawmakers ordered them to install after last year's floods is too expensive or impossible to get.
Texas summer camps sue to block new internet rule, saying it threatens their ability to operateEmily Foxhall, The Texas TribuneNineteen camps in Texas have filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate a new state requirement for them to install "end-to-end fiber optic facilities" in order to operate this summer.
The requirement that the camps install fiber optic internet does not make their properties safer, violates the state constitution and state law, and could prevent them from opening, the lawsuit said. The group of camps, which includes Camp Champions, Camp Longhorn, and Tejas Ministries, said in the suit that companies advised them that the service either could not be supplied, could not be confirmed as "end-to-end" - a term the lawsuit said isn't defined - or would cost an amount "that greatly exceeded their resources." The suit, filed in a Travis County state district court, offered examples: Camp Liberty, in one extreme, received a quote of $1 million in upfront costs plus a $3,500 monthly service fee over five years. Camp Longhorn received a quote of more than $1.2 million State legislators passed the new requirement, in addition to mandating a second kind of broadband connection, after the July 4 flood last year in the Texas Hill Country. That flood killed 25 campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic - information that emergency respondersCell service is known to be spotty in the area, even on normal days. The requirement makes no exception for rural camps where fiber optic internet might not be available or "is so costly as to make it economically infeasible or unreasonably burdensome," the lawsuit states. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the Department of State Health Services and its commissioner, the state Health and Human Services Commission and its executive commissioner, and Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission said they do not comment on pending litigation. Lawyers for the camps could not immediately be reached.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas cannabis businesses sue state to block smokeable hemp banHemp businesses also want to block a new rule that raises licensing fees by thousands of dollars.
Read more »
Texas cannabis businesses sue state to block smokeable hemp banTexas hemp industry leaders and advocacy groups have sued the state to block new regulations that eliminate natural smokeable hemp products and increase licensi
Read more »
Texas Longhorns Host Premier Texas Tech Commit For A VisitThe Texas Longhorns are leaving no stone unturned as they hosted a Texas Tech Red Raiders commit for a visit
Read more »
Texas summer camps sue to block new internet rule, saying it threatens their ability to operateA group of 19 camps said fiber-optic internet that lawmakers ordered them to install after last year's floods is too expensive or impossible to get.
Read more »
Camp Mystic Under Scrutiny: Health Investigators and Texas Rangers Examine Complaints Amidst License Renewal ReviewTexas authorities are investigating complaints against Camp Mystic, where 27 people died in a flood, while considering the camp's license renewal. Investigations involve the Texas Rangers and the Texas Department of State Health Services, focusing on the care of children and the camp's compliance with regulations. Legal battles, including a lawsuit from a camper's family, further complicate the situation, raising questions about the camp's future operation. The Texas Tribune emphasizes its commitment to accurate, transparent reporting on the ongoing developments and seeks public support to continue its journalistic endeavors.
Read more »
Texas Camps Sue Over New Fiber Optic Internet Mandate, Citing Unconstitutionality and High CostsNineteen Texas summer camps are suing the state, claiming a new requirement to install fiber optic internet is unconstitutional, too expensive, and could prevent them from opening. The mandate, enacted after a deadly flood, aims to improve emergency communications, but the camps argue the rule is impractical, especially for rural locations.
Read more »