13th Annual
TFI Communications Technology
Conference
January 25-26, 2018
Courtyard Marriott Downtown,
Austin Texas
Please visit the 2018 TFI Conference Page for information about the conference.
NOTE: Event has ended, but select "View Details" at top right to see 2018 schedule, speakers, etc.
Videos, Pictures, and Slides from the January 2018 conference
Videos, Pictures, and Slides from the January 2017 conference
| Overview | Speakers | Schedule | Registration and Venue |
DESCRIPTION
Technologies covered include Wireless, Broadband & Video, Artificial Intelligence, and Augmented and Virtual Reality. Now in its thirteenth year, the TFI conference unites industry, consultants, and government with leading experts in the technologies that are revolutionizing the industry and impacting the values of communication assets. Come for of learning, sharing, and networking!
Gain Background, Insights, and Forecasts:
- Wireless Communications, including 5G and HetNets
- Broadband & Video, including Gigabit networks and OTT
- Network Technologies, such as SDN/NFV
- Cutting-edge technologies including:
* Artificial Intelligence
* Virtual Reality
* Augmented Reality
Stay Relevant and Timely:
- High level review of top communications trends
- Informative presentations on key technologies
- Illuminating discussions of current and emerging issues facing the communications industry
- Important insights on the impact of these changes on asset valuation
- Multiple opportunities to connect and reconnect with community and thought-leaders
You Should Attend If:
- You have a business or policy interest in the communications network's future, or
- You are involved with the valuation of communications assets, or
- You are impacted by changes in the telecom, wireless, and cable television networks, or
- You are active in the IoT, AI, VR or other up and coming communication technologies, and
- You value learning, sharing, and collaborating with industry leaders and professionals
Conference Sponsors
Special thanks to our Sponsors, AUS, Costquest, and Deloitte.
Additional 2018 Sponsorships Available!
Keynotes:
Jeffrey Andrews, Cullen Trust Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering,
University of Texas at Austin
"5G and the Promise and Perils of Ultradensification"
We welcome back Professor Andrews as our 2018 Wireless Keynote. His previous engagements at TFI in 2011 and 2014 are among our most memorable and popular.
In addition to his keynote, Professor Andrews will also discuss New Radio (the first 5G physical layer standard) and update us on what's new in the cellular and WiFi community looking forward.
Mohammed Ali, Chief Architect, Austin VR Lab
"Augmented Reality: Status, Applications, and Prospects"
Live VR Demos using Smart Phones
In case you haven’t heard, Austin is a hotbed for Virtual and Augmented Reality. We are excited have Austin AR Lab leaders Mohammed Ali, Chief Architect, and Jason Willingham, Co-Founder, Austin VR Lab, collaborating with us. Yes it's for "Real!"
Special Bonus: TFI is gifting all attendees with Top-of-the-Line Vive Headsets for all attendees
Special Guest:
Iain Gillott, President and Founder, iGR (iGillottResearch, Inc.)
Wireless Industry Fireside Chat with hosts Gary Wiggins, AT&T and Stephen Yergeau, T-Mobile
Last year Iain returned as our 2017 Wireless Keynote to awesome reviews. We are extremely happy to have him back in 2018!
Conference Director:
Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., President, TFI
"TFI Overview"
"Forecasting Artificial Intelligence"
"TFI Broadband/Video/Wireless Forecast Update" with Ray Hodges
"The Education Technology Revolution" with Augie Grant
Guest Speakers:
Dub Dublin, CEO,Dublinvention LLC
"Artificial Intelligence as a Commodity"
August (Augie) Grant, Ph.D., Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications,
University of South Carolina; Co-Editor, Communications Technology Update and Fundamentals
"The Big Media Shuffle: Is Bigger Better?"
"The Education Technology Revolution"with Larry Vanston
Carl Hoemke, CEO, Co-Founder, crowdREAS
"Artificial Intelligence Tax Applications"
Ruben Miranda, Director, Tax Services, Duff & Phelps
"Broadband Spectrum Pricing"
Mike Wilson, Vice President of Sales and Consulting, CostQuest, CostQuest
"Communications Public Policy Issues Review"
Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, Technology Futures, Inc.
"TFI Broadband/Video/Wireless Forecast Update" with Larry Vanston
Jeffrey Binkley, Advisory Director, Transactions and Business Analytics LLP, Deloitte
Broadband Industry Panel Moderator
Christian Altenburger, Senior Manager Property Tax, Comcast
Broadband Industry Panel
Claire Chase, Property Tax Manager, Centurylink
Broadband Industry Panel
Carrie Vanston, Executive & Energy Leadership Coach, Corporate Cultures That Rock
"Leveling Up Your Leadership Energy"
Gary Wiggins, ASA, CAE, Executive Director - Property Tax, AT&T
Wireless Industry Fireside Chat, Co-Host
Stephen Yergeau, Director, Property Taxes, T-Mobile
Wireless Industry Fireside Chat, Co-Host
TFI Staff:
Helen Mary Marek, VP Operations & Creative Director, Technology Futures, Inc.
Conference Liaison
__________________________________
2018 TFI Communications Technology & Asset Valuation Conference
Courtyard Marriott Downtown, Austin, Texas
Basic Schedule
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018
6:15–7:15 pm Pre-Conference Reception Meet & Greet, Rooftop
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
8:30 am Conference Day One Begins, Rio Grande Ballroom
12:30 pm BBQ Lunch Break, Gatehouse
5:30 pm Day One Ends
5:45–7 pm Conference Reception – Rooftop
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018
8:30 am Conference Day Two Begins, Rio Grande Ballroom
12:15 pm Concluding Remarks
12:30 pm Box Lunch Presentation and Discussion
1:20 pm Conference Ends
___________________________________________
Past attendees include those from: Communications Policy Finance, Asset Valuation and Property Tax Strategic Forecasting Market Strategy Network Planning Legal and Regulatory Depreciation and Asset Lives New Technology Startups and Developers "Great program... information is timely and program ties together well. Good for attendees with various background and interests. I highly recommend it." ―Jeffery S. Binkley, Director, DeloitteSome of Our Previous Attendees:
Some of Our Previous Attendees
What Attendees Say:
"...a unique learning experience to be had via the lectures and interaction with the audience and TFI." ―Robert G. Strong, Tax Director, AT&T
"Practical information from industry insiders provided me insight I haven't found anywhere else." ―Augie Grant, Professor, University of South Carolina
"Great conference as always! Too many excellent speakers to list. Particularly remember 5G presentation."
―Dmitriy Matsyshen, Sr. Tax Manager, T-Mobile
"5 Stars! Informative sessions with dedicated speakers."
―Paul Tucker, Independent Appraiser
"Nice update on technology. ..."
―Charles Burkhardt, Senior Consultant, CostQuest
"Great range of topics & speakers that were both fascinating and provocative." ―Jim Dombrowski, Property Tax Manager, Verizon
"Based on TFI's knowledge, skills and experience, I strongly recommend this conference to anyone who is involved in assessing telecommunications equipment or anyone involved with telecommunications in some form or another." ―Raul Reyes, Business Personal Property Supervisor, Dallas Central Appraisal District
"...Proper valuation must take into account technological externalities that will diminish the value of the existing assets. The technological innovations are having a such an impact that keeping up is essential. This conference keeps me up to date."
―Roger Grabowski, Managing Director, Duff & Phelps
"Great conference for all of those who want an update on trends in the communications industry and the technologies impacting it. As an academic, I found it especially valuable in providing me ideas of what I need to be looking out for in my own areas of interest.
―Kim Houser, Business Law Professor, Washington State University
________________________
Conference Schedule:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018
6:15–7:15 pm Pre-Conference Reception Meet & Greet, Rooftop
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Conference Day One Begins, Rio Grande Ballroom
8:30 am Introductions and Welcome/TFI Overview
- Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
8:40 am Forecasting Artificial Intelligence
- Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI
9:20 am Artificial Intelligence as a Commodity
- Dub Dublin, CEO, Dublinvention LLC
9:50 am Break
10:05 am Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain – Application and Uses for Tax Professionals - Carl Hoemke, CEO, Co-Founder, crowdREASON
11:05 am Break
WIRELESS
11:20 am Keynote: 5G and the Promise and Perils of Ultradensification
- Jeffrey Andrews, Cullen Trust Professor of Electrical & Computer
Engineering, WNCG, University of Texas at Austin
12:20 pm Discussion and Q&A
12:30 pm Lunch Break, Gatehouse
1:15 pm Wireless Industry Fireside Chat
- Iain Gillott, President and Founder, iGR (iGillottResearch, Inc.) Special Guest
-Co-Hosts:
- Gary Wiggins, AT&T
- Stephen Yergeau, T-Mobile
2:05 pm Break
AUGMENTED REALITY & VIRTUAL REALITY
2:15 pm Keynote: “Augmented Reality: Status, Applications, and Prospects”
- Mohammed Ali, Chief Architect, Austin VR Lab
3:00 pm Virtual Reality Demo - Austin VR Lab - Groups 1-3
6:00 pm Day Ends
6:15 pm Conference Reception – Rooftop
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018
Conference Day Two, Rio Grande Ballroom
BROADBAND & VIDEO
8:30 am TFI Broadband/Video/Wireless Forecast Update
- Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI
8:50 am The Big Media Shuffle: Is Bigger Better?
- August (Augie) Grant, Professor, School of Journalism and Mass
Communications, University of South Carolina; Co-Editor,
Communications Technology Update and Fundamentals
9:30 am The Education Technology Revolution
- August (Augie) Grant, Professor, University of South Carolina
9:50 am Break
10:05 am Broadband Spectrum Pricing
- Ruben Miranda, Duff & Phelps
10:35 am Communications Public Policy Issues Review
- Mike Wilson, Vice President of Sales and Consulting, CostQuest
11:05 am Break
11:20 am Broadband Industry Panel
- Jeffrey Binkley, Deloitte (Moderator)
- Christian Altenburger, Comcast
- Claire Chase, Property Tax Manager, Centurylink
12:20 pm Concluding Remarks
12:30 pm Break
12:35 pm Box Lunch Presentation and Discussion - Leveling Up Your Leadership Energy
- Carrie Vanston, Executive & Energy Leadership Coach, Corporate Cultures That Rock
1:25 pm Conference Ends
To give you an idea of the quality of our keynotes, speakers, and panelists, view our January 2017 TFI Conference Schedule, Slides, Videos, Photos & Bios
Registration Information:
Click here or see "Tickets" at Top of Page
General Admission: $995)
Assessor/Academic/Government Rate: $295.00*
*Special rate for assessors, government, or academia
[Substitution/Cancellation/Refunds/Inclement Weather Policy]
Contact:
Please contact Helen Mary Marek, at hmvmarek@tfi.com or call us at (512) 258-8898 with any questions regarding the conference.
To receive conferenee updates, please click here.
VENUE:
Location/Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott Downtown, 300 E. 4th Street., Austin, TX, 512-236-8008 or 800-321-2211. Guest rooms for the conference are $229 per night. Please let the Marriott know you are with the TFI Conference.
For more information about Austin, please visit Austin 360 or Austin Chamber of Commerce.
To receive updated seminar details, dates, and registration information for future sessions, please click here.Please contact Helen Mary Marek at info@tfi.com or call us at (512) 258-8898 with any questions regarding the conference.
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Please visit the 2019 TFI Conference Page for information about the conference
| Overview | Speakers | Schedule | Registration and Venue |
Archives:
2018 Conference -- 2017 Conference -- 2016 Conference -- 2015 Conference -- 2014 Conference --
2013 Conference
“... a unique learning experience to be had via the lectures and interaction with the audience and TFI."
Robert G. Strong,
Tax Director, AT&T
"Based on TFI's knowledge, skills and experience, I strongly recommend their annual Technology Futures Asset Valuation Conference to anyone who is involved in assessing telecommunications equipment or anyone involved with telecommunications in some form or another."
Raul Reyes, Business Personal Property Supervisor
Dallas Central Appraisal District
"Great program ... information is timely and program ties together well. Good for attendees with various background and interests. I highly recommend it."<
Jeffery S. Binkley,
Director, Deloitte
"… Proper valuation must take into account technological externalities that will diminish the value of the existing assets. The technological innovations are having a such an impact that keeping up is essential. This conference keeps me up to date."
Roger Grabowski,
Managing Director
Duff & Phelps