12th Annual

TFI Communications Technology
& Asset Valuation Conference

January 26-27, 2017
Couryard Marriott Downtown, Austin Texas

Videos, Pictures, and Slides
from the January 2017 conference

Overview	Speakers	Schedule	Registration and Venue

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January 26-27, 2017

Courtyard Marriott Downtown, Austin, Texas Join us in exciting downtown Austin for the top technology conference for communications and valuation professionals. In its twelfth year, the TFI conference unites industry, consultants, and government with experts in the technologies that are revolutionizing the industry and impacting the values of communication assets.

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 like IoT, Cognitive Computing, Fast Data, and Vehicular Automation

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:

• Strong policy or business interest in the communications network's future
• Work in the tax, depreciation, and/or valuation area
• Impacted by telecom, wireless, and cable television networks major asset changes
• Value learning, sharing, and collaborating
  

2016 Conference

Learning Objectives

• Provide an up-to-date overview of the changes in technology, markets and industry structure that impact the communications industry, especially those change that involve the major assets of the telephone, wireless, and cable television networks.
• Provide a summary and annual update of TFI's recent research and forecasts in key communication technologies.
• Provide summaries and updates of other experts' research in the same areas
• Provide independent expert knowledge on changing communication technologies
• Present illuminating discussions of current and emerging issues facing the communications industry
• Present helpful discussions on the impact of these changes on the depreciation and valuation of communication industry assets.

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Who Should Attend:

Professionals and managers involved in:

• Finance, Asset Valuation and Property Tax
• Communications Policy
• Strategic Forecasting
• Market Strategy
• Network Planning
• Legal and Regulatory
• Depreciation and Asset Lives

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Keynotes, Speakers, and Panelists

KEYNOTE Iain Gillott, President and Founder of iGR (iGillottResearch, Inc.) 

Wireless: "From Here to 5G"

   

KEYNOTE: Kristen Grauman, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at Austin 

Transformative Technologies: "Computer Vision - Welcome Our Newest Consumer of Video and Bandwidth!"

THOUGHT LEADER: Byron Reese, Author, Futurist, Entrepreneur, and Technologist; 
CEO/Publisher, Gigaom; CEO, Knowingly. 

Transformative Technologies: "An Interview with Byron Reese, Publisher of Gigaom"  

All attendees will receive a copy of Byron's book Infinite Progress

CONFERENCE DIRECTOR: Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., President, TFI

"The New Transformative Technologies"
"TFI Broadband/Video Forecast Update"
"New Broadband/Video Markets, Impacts, and Bandwidth Point/Counterpoint"

 

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Anne Boysen, President & Founder, After the Millennials

"The Post Millennials and their Impact on Communications"

Dub Dublin, CEO, Dublinvention LLC 

"IoT Security or Lack Thereof--Constraint or Showstopper?" 
"SDN/NFV: Tutorial, Insights, and Impacts" 

August (Augie) Grant, Ph.D., Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina; Co-Editor, Communications Technology Update and Fundamentals

"New Broadband/Video Markets, Impacts, and Bandwidth Point/Counterpoint"

Michael Harbert, Manager of Business Development, ECS
The Afterlife: Recycling and Reuse of Old IT & Communications Equipment

Carrie Vanston, Lead, Corporate Cultures that Rock
"Connections That Count" 

Special Feature: "Virtual and Augmented Reality: Games, Shows, and Apps"
A Short Film by TFI

WIRELESS INDUSTRY PANEL

Gary Wiggins, Executive Director - Property Tax, AT&T

Stephen Yergeau, Director, Property Taxes, T-Mobile

David Schneider, Manager, Ernst & Young Contractor for Sprint

Jim Dombrowski, Manager Property Tax, Verizon

Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, TFI: "TFI Wireless Forecast Update"

BROADBAND INDUSTRY PANEL & "Communications Industry Current Affairs" 

Jeff Binkley, Advisory Director, Transactions and Business Analytics LLP, Deloitte 

Christian Altenburger, Manager, Property Tax, Comcast

Joel Rubensohn, Senior Tax Manager, Cox Enterprises 

Robert Strong, Tax Director, AT&T

Jim Dombrowski, Manager, Property Tax, Verizon

Steven Ingram, Manager, Property Tax, CenturyLink  

   

CONFERENCE LIASON:                  
– Helen Mary Marek, VP Operations & Creative Director, Technology Futures, Inc.

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Some of Our Previous Attendees:

3M	Advantax	American Appraisal	AT&T
AT&T Mobility	AUS Consultants	Arizona Attorney General Office	Baker Donelson
Bexar Appraisal	BCRI	Blankenship Resources	Capitol Appraisal Group
CenturyLink	CHR Solutions	Clearwire	Collin County Appraisal
Comcast	Cricket Communications	CostQuest Associates	Dallas Central Appraisal
Deloitte	Duff & Phelps	Embarq	Ernst & Young
FTTH	FMV Opinions	Grant Thornton	GVTC Communications
Hiscock & Barclay, LLP	Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley LLP	Hill Ward Henderson Law Firm	KPMG
Law Offices of Peter Michaels	Level 3 Communications	Millinium Marketing	Qwest
Revenue Wisconsin	Satai Network	SC&H Group, LLC	Sprint/Nextel
State of California Board of Equalization	Tarrant County Appraisal	Tax Compliance Inc.	Thompson Reuters
Time Warner Cable	T-Mobile	TRCI	Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
UHY Advisors	Verizon

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What Attendees Say:

"Thank you for putting on your seminars and conference. Although I have used various TFI tables over the years and read several of your publications, there is an additional and unique learning experience to be had via the lectures and interaction with the audience and TFI. Through the questions, comments, and answers one hears the issue presented from a variety of perspectives and has the opportunity to put in one's own words their own comments and questions to see if they understand it or not, etc. One-on-one with the authors, the experts, a wonderful educational opportunity."

Robert G. Strong, Tax Director
AT&T

"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 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."

Jeffery S. Binkley, Senior Director
Deloitte

"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

"5 Stars! Informative sessions with dedicated speakers."
Paul Tucker, Independent Appraiser,
Tucker Consulting

"I found the insights on technology changes in-process and planned and their current and expected impact on replacement of assets most useful. 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

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Schedule

2017 TFI Communications Technology & Asset Valuation Conference 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017

6:15–7:15 pm Pre-Conference Reception Meet & Greet -- Hosted by CostQuest
                   Gatehouse

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017

8:30 am      Introductions and Welcome / TFI Overview

8:50 am      The New Transformative Technologies
                 – Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., Conference Director, President, TFI

9:10 am      Communication Technology Update
                 – August Grant, Ph.D., Professor, School of Journalism & Mass                   Communications,  University of South Carolina

9:45 am       Break

10:00 am    Virtual and Augmented Reality (Games, Shows, and Apps)
                  A Short Film by TFI

10:30 am    New Broadband/Video Markets, Impacts, and Bandwidth                      Point/Counterpoint
                 – August Grant, Ph.D., Professor, School of Journalism & Mass                    Comm, University of SC
                 – Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., Conference Director, President, TFI

11:00 am     Break

11:15 am     TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THOUGHTLEADER:
                  An Interview with Byron Reese, Publisher of Gigaom 
                 – Byron Reese, Author, Futurist, Entrepreneur, Technologist 
                   CEO/Publisher, Gigaom; CEO, Knowingly

                 – Carrie Vanston, Leader, Corporate Cultures that Rock (Interviewer)

12:15 pm    Discussion and Q&A

12:30 pm    Lunch Break

1:30 pm      WIRELESS KEYNOTE: From Here to 5G
                 – Iain Gillott, President & Founder, iGR (iGillottResearch, Inc.)

2:30 pm     Discussion and Q&A

2:45 pm     Break

3:00 pm     Wireless Industry Panel
                – Gary Wiggins, Executive Director - Property Tax, AT&T
                – Jim Dombrowski, Manager Property Tax, Verizon
                – David Schneider, Manager, Ernst & Young Contractor for Sprint
                – Stephen Yergeau, Director, Property Taxes, T-Mobile

4:00 pm     Break

4:15 pm     The Afterlife: Recycling and Reuse of Old IT & Communications                     Equipment
                – Michael Harbert, Manager of Business Development, ECS

4:30 pm     TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGIES KEYNOTE: Computer Vision -                     Welcome Our Newest Consumer of Video and Bandwidth!
                – Kristen Grauman, Ph.D., Assocociate Professor, Dept. of Computer
                Science, University of Texas at Austin

5:30 pm      Day End

5:45–7:00 pm      Conference Reception – Gatehouse

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

8:30 am      TFI Broadband/Wireless/Video Forecast Update
                 – Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., Conference Director, President, TFI
                 – Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, TFI

8:50 am      The Post Millennials and their Impact on Communications
                 – Anne Boysen, President & Founder, After the Millennials

9:20 am      IoT Security or Lack Thereof ― Constraint or Showstopper? 
                 – Dub Dublin, CEO, Dublinvention LLC

9:40 am      Break

9:55 am      SDN/NFV: Tutorial, Insights, and Impacts 
                 – Dub Dublin, CEO, Dublinvention LLC

10:35 am    Discussion and Q&A

10:45 am   Break

11:00 am   Broadband Industry Panel & Communications Industry Current                    Affairs Discussion
              – Christian Altenburger, Manager, Property Tax, Comcast
              – Jeff Binkley, Advisory Director, Transactions and Business
                 Analytics LLP, Deloitte 
              – Joel Rubensohn, Senior Tax Manager, Cox Enterprises
              – Robert Strong, Tax Director, AT&T
              – Jim Dombrowski, Manager, Property Tax, Verizon
              – Steven Ingram, Manager, Property Tax, CenturyLink

12:15 pm    Concluding Remarks

12:25 pm    Break

12:30 pm    Box Lunch Presentation and Discussion
                 "Connections That Count"
                 – Carrie Vanston, Lead, Corporate Cultures that Rock

1:20 pm      Conference Ends

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Conference Sponsors

Special thanks to our Sponsors, AUS, Costquest, and Deloitte.

2018 Sponsorships Available

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2016 Conference Schedule

To receive conferenee updates, please click here.

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VENUE:

Location/Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott Downtown, 300 E. 4th Street., Austin, TX, 512-236-8008 or 800-321-2211. The hotel is in walking distance to Austin's best live music venues and restaurants and near the Texas State Capitol, the University of Texas, and other popular Austin sites. This is a non-smoking facility with complimentary high-speed Internet and wireless access throughout the hotel. (photo source: Marriott)

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 (800) 835-3887 or (512) 258-8898 with any questions regarding the conference. ********************************************

Overview	Speakers	Schedule	Registration and Venue

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