There’s still a week until the Fourth of July, but there are already fireworks in Washington. President Biden announced the allocation for NTIA’s $42 billion BEAD program, emphasizing his goal for widespread high-speed broadband access by 2030. 19 states received more than $1 billion in funding, and come Friday all states, territories and D.C. will have 180 days to submit their initial proposals. It’s a turning point for many—a similar sentiment felt at the FCC as it seeks to fill its fifth seat. The Commission had a nomination hearing Thursday for Anna Gomez, which had a different feel compared to hearings held for prior nominee Gigi Sohn.