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 |
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
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.
Who Should Attend:
- Finance, Asset Valuation and Property Tax
- Communications Policy
- Strategic Forecasting
- Market Strategy
- Network Planning
- Legal and Regulatory
- Depreciation and Asset Lives
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 |
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
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
Conference Sponsors
Special thanks to our Sponsors, AUS, Costquest, and Deloitte.
2018 Sponsorships Available
________________________
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
Archives:
2016 Conference -- 2015 Conference -- 2014 Conference --
2013 Conference
To receive conferenee updates, please click here.
VENUE:

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 |
Archives:
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