The healthcare debate took some of congressional leaders' attention from telecom, said Hill and industry officials. Health care was a huge priority for Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and it delayed action on communications, said a Senate GOP staffer. Senate Republicans hope that the resolution of health care and the recent release of the National Broadband Plan mean an increase in telecom activity in the days to come, the source said. House Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., was also deeply involved in the health-care debate, said a telecom executive. But lawmakers may want to avoid contentious matters for a while, the executive said. House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher, D-Va., is expected to introduce bills on privacy and the Universal Service Fund soon. He has said he plans to take up USF before privacy. Industry officials said they didn't expect to see the USF bill before Congress leaves for its spring recess, which starts Friday.
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