STAFF DIRECTORY
BRIAN THORN
Director of Broadband Strategy
Brian Thorn serves as the Director of Broadband Strategy for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. In this role, he designs and executes the state’s broadband and digital transformation strategies to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to affordable broadband networks and that the state remains a leader in connectivity into the future.
Professional Background
Prior to joining RI Commerce, Brian worked for more than a decade in Washington, DC. Most recently, he served as senior researcher with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the country’s largest communications and media labor union, where he led the union’s federal broadband policy work to create good jobs in the industry and achieve access to affordable broadband for all. As a representative of CWA, he served on the Digital Empowerment and Inclusion Working Group of the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Equity and Diversity Council and The Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights’ Media/Telecommunications Taskforce, the latter of which focuses on ensuring that civil and human rights, equal opportunity, and democratic participation are front and center in communications and technology policy debates.
Education
Brian holds a BA from the University of New Hampshire and an MA from the University of Chicago.