20th Annual TFI Technology Conference - Jan 23-24, 2025

20th Annual TFI Technology Conference | 2 DAYS: Thurs-Fri, Jan 23-24 (Meet & Greet Jan 22.) In-person in Austin or online from your location

About this event

The 20th TFI Technology Conference will be held in Austin on Thursday (9am - 5:30pm) and Friday (9am - 12:30pm), January 23 & 24, 2025 at the Hyatt Place Austin Downtown with the option to attend online. The opening reception is on Wednesday, January 22.

The TFI conference gives industry thought-leaders and professionals the chance to share the latest trends and developments impacting communications and asset valuation.

As always, we will cover wireless communications, broadband and video, network technologies, and a range of cutting-edge technologies coming onto the market. We hope you’ll join your colleagues in 2025 in what promises to be another interesting and important event!

Conference Sponsors

CostQuest Associates | KROLL | Ryan

And Alliance Partner: Leadership Mindset Success

2025 Sponsorships are available. Please contact TFI team for information.

Registration Information:

To register, Click on the red "Tickets" bar above.

I n-Person - Hyatt Plaza Downtown Austin

• General Registration: $995
• Assessors*: $95

Online Only - via Zoom

• General Registration: $245
• Assessors *: $0

In-Person Opening Reception on the evening of Wed, Jan 22. Online networking before and after the first day .

*Special rate for tax assessors only.

[Substitution/Cancellation/Refunds/Inclement Weather Policy]

Venue: Hyatt Place Austin Downtown

Location/Accommodations: Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, 211 East 3rd Street, Austin, TX, 512-476-4440 (phone) or 512-476-4404 (fax). We have a limited block of guest rooms available until January 10, 2025 at the special rate of $189 per night. Click here to reserve guest rooms.

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.

Keynotes and Speakers:

Additional presenters will be added soon.

Lawrence Vanston, Ph.D., Conference Director, President TFI: Larry is an internationally-recognized authority on communications forecasting. He launched the TFI conference in 2006 to provide a forum for the property assessment/valuation community to discuss technology issues.

2025 Schedule

Additional details and updates will be added as as they become available.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025
6:15–7:15 pm – Pre-Conference Reception Meet & Greet – Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Gallery

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025 Conference - Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Meeting Place 2&3. (Online networking before and after the first day.)

9:00 am Introductions and Welcome • Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D., President, TFI
9:15 am TFI Industry Forecast Overview • Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI • Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, TFI
10:10 am Break
10:15 am Broadband Keynote: The Crash of 2033 • Alex Davies, Senior Analyst, TV & Wireless Group, Rethink Technology Research
11:15 am Break
11:30 am Feature Presentation: Valuations of Data Centers: Current Trends & Issues • Ruben Miranda, Managing Director, Property Tax, Kroll

12:15 pm Lunch Break – Attendees are on their own for lunch

1:30 pm Wireless Keynote: The Latest on 5G and the Outlook for 6G • Iain Gillott, President, iGR
2:30 pm Break
2:45 pm Broadband and Wireless Industry Panel • Jeffrey Binkley, Director, Ryan (Moderator) • Gary Hunter, AVP, Tax, AT&T • John Reed, Sr. Director, Property Tax, Charter • Brandt Palmer, Sr. Manager, Property Tax, T-Mobile
3:45 pm Break
4:00 pm U.S. Economic Outlook • Michael A. Sadler, Ph.D., Independent Economist and Consultant
5:00 pm Day End
5:30 pm Conference Reception (Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Gallery)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025 - Conference - Hyatt Place Austin Downtown Meeting Place 2&3

9:00 am Communications Technology Update • August (Augie) Grant, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina; Co-Editor, Communications Technology Update and Fundamentals
10:00 am Break
10:15 am Policy Keynote: Fireside Chat on Rural Broadband and Other Trends • Joan Engebretson, Editor-at-Large, Telecompetitor • Alfonso Porras, Associate VP​, Valuation, CostQuest Associates (host)
11:15 am Break
11: 30 am Feature Presentation: BEAD Update: Results of the first grant program in Louisiana • Jim Stegeman, President, CostQuest Associates
12 :15 pm The Last Word
12 :30 pm Conference Ends
12:30–1pm Optional Session: Energize your Leadership with Intentional Travel• Carrie Vanston, CEO, Leadership Mindset Success

TFI Conference Team

• Lawrence Vanston, Ph.D. Conference Director, lvanston@tfi.com or (512) 415-5965

• Helen Mary Marek Conference Liaison, hmvmarek@tfi.com or (512) 914-8038
• Carrie Vanston Leadership Mindset Success, Online Host, carrie@carrievanston.com

Contact Helen Mary Marek,at hmvmarek@tfi.com or (512) 914-8038 if you have any questions or problems accessing the videos or slides.

W hat to Expect

Gain Background, Insights, and Forecasts:

• Wireless Communications, including 5G and 6G
• Broadband & Video, including Gigabit networks and OTT
• Network Technologies
• Cutting-edge technologies such as virtual and 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, and
• You value learning, sharing, and collaborating with industry leaders and professionals

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

What Attendees Say"

"Great program... information is timely and program ties together well. Good for attendees with various background and interests. I highly recommend it." ―Jeffrey S. Binkley, Ryan

"...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

Previous TFI Technology Conferences:

Please visit our TFI Technology Conference pages on our TFI-CTFG site for Schedule, Slides, Videos, and Bios from previous TFI conferences. (In red menu box at top.)

Previous Attendees:

We hope you can join us at our 20th Annual TFI Technology Conference. Thursday & Friday, January 23-24, 2025. Reception, Wednesday, January 22. To register, Click on the red "Tickets" bar above.