About this event

The 21st Annual TFI Technology Conference will be held in-person in Austin on Thursday (9am - 5:30pm) and Friday (9am - 12:30pm), January 22 & 23, 2026 at the Hyatt Place Austin Downtown with the option to attend online. There will be a Meet & Greet on Wednesday evening, January 21.

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 2026 in what promises to be another interesting and important event!

Conference Sponsors

CostQuest Associates | KROLL | Ryan

And Alliance Partner: Leadership Mindset Success

2026 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 Admission: Early Bird Rate $895 ($995 after Dec. 31, 2025)
• Assessors*: Early Bird Rate $85 ($95 after Dec 31, 2025)

Online Only - via Zoom

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

In-Person Opening Reception on the evening of Wed, Jan 21. 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 available until January 9, 2026 at the special rate of $189 per night.

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

Lawrence Vanston, Ph.D., 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 Overviewwith Larry Vanston

Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, TFI

Wireless Keynote: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Communications in 6G

Todd E. Humphreys, Ph.D., Ernest Dashiell Cockrell II Chair in Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, His presentation will focus on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Communications in 6G.

Policy Keynote: Investment-Specific-Risk in Discount Rates

Roger Grabowski, Fellow Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) and Managing Director (ret.), Valuation Services at Kroll. He will presenting on Investment-Specific-Risk in Discount Rates.

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

Broadband and Wireless Industry Panel:

Gary Hunter, AVP Tax, AT&T

John Reed, Sr. Director, Property Tax, Charter

Brandt Palmer, Sr. Manager, Property Tax, T-Mobile

Feature Presentation:
From Spreadsheets to Agents: Real‑World AI for Valuation & Property Tax

Carl Hoemke, GM, Property Tax, Avalara

Vsu Subramanian, SVP, Engineering,
Avalara

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

U.S. Economic OutlookMichael 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.

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2026 TFI Technology Conference Schedule

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
6:15–7:15 pm – Pre-Conference Reception Meet & Greet – Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Gallery

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 - 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 • 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 Wireless Keynote: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Communications in 6G •
Todd E. Humphreys, Ph.D., Ernest Dashiell Cockrell II Chair in Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

11:15 am Break

11:30 am Feature Presentation: Valuations of Data Centers and the AI Impact • Ruben Miranda, Managing Director, Property Tax, Kroll

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

1:30 pm Policy Keynote: Investment-Specific-Risk in Discount Rates • Roger Grabowski -Fellow Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA), Managing Director (ret.), Valuation Services, Kroll

2:30 pm Break

2:45 pm Broadband and Wireless Industry Panel • 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 Feature Presentation: From Spreadsheets to Agents: Real‑World AI for Valuation & Property Tax • Carl Hoemke, GM, Property Tax, Avalara and Vsu Subramanian, SVP, Engineering, Avalara

5:00 pm Day End

5:30 pm Conference Reception (Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Gallery)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 – 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 – U.S. Economic Outlook • 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.

11:15 am Break

11: 30 am – Feature Presentation - TBA

12 :15 pm The Last Word

12 :30 pm Conference End

12:30 – 1:00 Optional Session -TBA

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TFI Conference Team

• Lawrence Vanston, Ph.D. Conference Director, [email protected] or (512) 415-5965

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

Contact Helen Mary Marek,at [email protected] 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
• 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

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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 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 21st Annual TFI Technology Conference. Thursday & Friday, January 22-23, 2026. Reception, Wednesday, January 22. To register, Click on the red "Tickets" bar above.