22nd Annual TFI Technology Conference - Jan 28-29, 2027

About this event

We'll cover the latest in wireless and broadband technologies, plus related topics like AI and data centers. Join your colleagues for another interesting and important event!

Conference Sponsors: CostQuest Associates | KROLL | Ryan

And Alliance Partner: Leadership Mindset Success

2027 Sponsorships are available. Please contact TFI team for information.

The 22nd Annual TFI Technology Conference will be held in-person in Austin on Thursday (9:00 am - 5:00 pm) and Friday (9:00 am - 12:00 pm), January 28 & 29, 2027 at the Hyatt Place Austin Downtown with the option to attend online. There will be a Meet & Greet on Wednesday evening, January 27.

We have a limited block of guest rooms for $189 per night. Link for Special Rate. Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, 211 East 3rd Street, Austin, Texas +1 512 476 4440

Registration Information:

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

In-Person - Hyatt Plaza Downtown Austin

• General Admission: Early Bird Rate $895 ($995 after Jan 6, 2027)
• Assessors*: Early Bird Rate $89.50 ($99.50 after Jan 6, 2027) - Check your email or contact TFI for discount code

Online Only - via Zoom

• General Admission : $245
• Assessors *: $24.50 or free - Check your email or contact TFI for discount code

In-Person Opening Reception on the evening of Wed, Jan 27 Online networking before and after the first day .

*Special rate is 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 for $189 per night Link for Special Rate. Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, 211 East 3rd Street, Austin, Texas +1 512 476 4440.

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, Featured Speakers, and Panelists

In Schedule Order

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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.

TFI Industry Forecast Overview - with Lawrence Vanston

, Senior Consultant, TFI

Wireless Keynote: AI Applications in Future Wireless Networks
, Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director, 6G@UT, The University of Texas at Austin

Communications Technology Update | , Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina; Co-Editor, Communications Technology Update and Fundamentals

Broadband Keynote: The Broadband Landscape in the AI Age – Terrestrial and Satellites | , Vice President, Broadband Access and Home Networking, Dell’Oro Group

Broadband and Wireless Industry Panel:

(Moderator) Principal, Property Tax – Complex Properties, Ryan

, AVP Tax, AT&T

, Sr. Director, Property Tax, Charter

, Sr. Manager, Property Tax, T-Mobile (tentative)

U.S. Economic Outlook | , Retired Professor of Instruction, Economics, The University of Texas at Austin; Principal, Brandl the Economist; Author "Money, Banking, Financial Markets & Institutions" 3rd ed, Cengage Learning.

Feature Presentation: Valuations of Data Centers and the AI Impact
, Managing Director, Property Tax, Kroll

Feature Presentation: Real‑World AI for Valuation & Property Tax
, GM, Property Tax, Avalara (tentative)

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2027 TFI Technology Conference Schedule

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
6:15–7:15 pm – Pre-Conference Reception Meet & Greet – Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Gallery

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 – Conference Day 1 – Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Meeting Place 2&3. (Online networking before and after the first day.)

9:00 am Introductions and Welcome • , President, TFI

9:15 am TFI Industry Forecast Overview • , President, TFI • , Senior Consultant, TFI

9:45 am Break

10:00 am Wireless Keynote: AI Applications in Future Wireless Networks • , Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director, 6G@UT, The University of Texas at Austin

11:00 am Break

11:15 am Communications Technology Update • , Professor Emeritus, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina; Co-Editor, Communications Technology Update and Fundamentals

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

1:30 pm Broadband Keynote: The Broadband Landscape in the AI Age – Terrestrial and Satellites • , Vice President, Broadband Access and Home Networking, Dell’Oro Group

2:30 pm Break

2:45 pm Broadband and Wireless Industry Panel • (Moderator) Principal, Property Tax – Complex Properties, Ryan • , AVP Tax, AT&T • , Sr. Director, Property Tax, Charter • , Sr. Manager, Property Tax (tentative)
T-Mobile

3:45 pm Break

4:00 pm U.S. Economic Outlook • , Retired Professor of Instruction, Economics, The University of Texas at Austin; Principal, Brandl the Economist; Author “Money, Banking, Financial Markets & Institutions” 3rd ed, Cengage Learning

5:00 pm Day End

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Conference Reception

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 – Conference – Hyatt Place Austin Downtown Meeting Place 2&3

9:00 am Feature Presentation: Valuations of Data Centers and the AI Impact • , Managing Director, Property Tax, Kroll

9:45 am Feature Presentation: AI Performance and Deployment Forecasts • , Executive Director, TFI Projects

10:15 am Break

10:30 am Feature Presentation: Real‑World AI for Valuation & Property Tax • , GM, Property Tax, Avalara (tentative)

11:15 am Policy Round Table: Data Centers and AI - Politics and Policy

11:55 am The Last Word

12:00 pm Conference End

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TFI Conference Team

• Conference Director, [email protected] or (512) 415-5965

• Conference Liaison, [email protected] or (512) 914-8038
• Leadership Mindset Success, Online Host, [email protected]

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

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W hat to Expect

Gain Background, Insights, and Forecasts:

• Wireless Communications, including 5G and 6G
• Broadband & Video, including Gigabit networks and OTT
• Network Technologies and Data Centers
• Impact of AI

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

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What Attendees Say"

“Great program with very good speakers that provided great insights on how technology is (and will) impact the telecommunications Industry.” – Gary Hunter, ATT

“The premier telecom technology forecasting conference. Most valuable is the forecasting and wireless. Always look at new ways of using what I learn at the conference to apply it to long range projects.” – John Reed, Charter

"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, Senior Advisor, Kroll

"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

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Previous TFI Technology Conferences:

Please visit our TFI Technology Conference pages on our 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 22st Annual TFI Technology Conference. Thursday & Friday, January 28-29, 2027. Meet & Greet, Wednesday, January 27. To register, Click on the red "Tickets" bar above.

Info: Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI • Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, TFI

Info: Kaushik Chowdhury, Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Director, 6G@UT, The University of Texas at Austin

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

Info: Attendees are on their own for lunch

Info: Jeff Heynen, Vice President, Broadband Access and Home Networking, Dell’Oro Group

Info: Jason Butterworth (Moderator) Principal, Property Tax – Complex Properties, Ryan • Gary Hunter, AVP Tax, AT&T • John Reed, Sr. Director, Property Tax, Charter • Brandt Palmer, Sr. Manager, Property Tax, T-Mobile (tentative)

Info: Michael Brandl, Ph.D., Retired Professor of Instruction, Economics, The University of Texas at Austin; Principal, Brandl the Economist; Author “Money, Banking, Financial Markets & Institutions” 3rd ed, Cengage Learning

Info: Ruben Miranda, Managing Director, Property Tax, Kroll

Info: Lawrence Vanston, Executive Director, TFI Projects

Info: Carl Hoemke, GM, Property Tax, Avalara (tentative)

Event venue & nearby stays

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, 211 East 3rd Street, Austin, United States

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