2026 TFI Technology Conference

Thurs & Fri, January 22 & 23, 2026
In-Person at the Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Austin, Texas & Online via Zoom
In-Person Meet & Greet on the evening of Wed, Jan 21
Online networking before and after the first day
Conference Schedule & Details below.

2026 ATTENDEE INFORMATION PACKET: Includes info, speakers and schedule for In-Person

2026 ATTENDEE LIST: Page 1-2 In-Person Attendees, 3-5 Onlilne Attendees

If you haven’t already registered, register here for the 21st Annual TFI Technology Conference

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!

A sincere thank you to our TFI Technology Conference Sponsors:

And Alliance Partner:

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2026 Schedule

Additional details will be added as they become available.

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 – Slides

9:15 am Broadband Keynote: Predictions for 2026 and Beyond Daniel Grossman, Principal, NetAccess Futures – Slides

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 – Slides

11:15 am Break

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

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 – Slides

2:30 pm Break

2:45 pm Broadband and Wireless Industry Panel • 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 – Slides

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 – Slides

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 – Slides

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 – Slides

11:15 am Break

11: 30 am – TFI Industry Forecast Overview • Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI • Ray Hodges, Senior Consultant, TFI – Slides

12 :15 pm The Last Word

12 :30 pm Conference End

Attendees: Please complete TFI Technology Conference Feedback Form

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Videos, slides, and photos from past conferences: 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014. Videos from the 2019 – 2023 TFI Technology Conferences can also be viewed on our YouTube channel. Past Conference Photos are on our TFI Facebook page.

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