Ninth Annual

TFI Asset Valuation Conference Logo

TFI Communications Technology Asset Valuation Conference

January 29-30, 2014

Pre-Conference: TFI Technology Forecasting for Valuation Seminar, January 28, 2014

News: Final agenda is posted! Pre-Conference TFI Technology Forecasting Seminar new and expanded!Welcome Data Center Keynote, Mark Murrill, Emerson Network Power; Broadband/Video Keynote: Dr. William Lehr, MIT; and Wireless Keynote Speaker Professor Jeffrey Andrews, University of Texas at Austin.

Radisson Hotel, Downtown Austin, Texas

Overview Speakers Schedule Registration and Venue





TFI Asset Valuation Conference Logo

Conference Overview:

The communications industry continues to be buffeted by the winds of change in technology, markets and industry structure. This conference provides an up-to-date overview and current forecasts of these changes. The emphasis is on those changes that involve the major assets of the telephone, wireless, and cable television networks.

The conference is geared to tax, depreciation, and valuation professionals, but should be attended by anyone with a strong policy or business interest in future of the communications network. The program includes featured outside speakers specializing in technology areas, TFI speakers reviewing their latest forecasts, and people from the consulting, industry and appraisal community sharing their knowledge in presentations and on panels.

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:

Professionals and managers involved in:
  • Finance, Asset Valuation and Property Tax
  • Communications Policy
  • Strategic Forecasting
  • Market Strategy
  • Network Planning
  • Legal and Regulatory
  • Depreciation and Asset Lives
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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
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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

"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

"Overall, the TFI Asset Valuation Conference has excellent and timely topics. The topics are relevant to what is currently happening in today's marketplace, including telecommunications convergence, obsolescence of telecom networks, and the impact of broadband initiatives across the industry. This program is a must for anyone charged with determining fair market value for telecom assets."

Rick Masching, Property Tax Director
Verizon Communications

"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
Thomson Reuters

"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

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SCHEDULE - January 29-30, 2014

CONFERENCE DAY 1: Wednesday, January 29, 2014
8:30 am – Introductions & Welcome
8:40 am – TFI Research: News and Overview
      Lawrence Vanston, TFI

DATA CENTERS

9:00 am – Technology Changes in Data Centers
      Mark Murrill, Director Marketing Enterprise and 400V DC, Emerson Network Power

9:50 am - Break

10:05 am – Implications for Data Center Assets
      Kelli Batianis-DiPietro, Time Warner-Cable
      Alan Schultz, Paradigm Tax Group
      Pat Lynch, CBRE 

VALUATION ISSUES I

10:45 am – Implications of Elk Hills Power
      Jerome Weinert, AUS Consultants (Moderator)
      Peter Michaels, Attorney, Law Office of Peter Michaels
      Ruben Miranda, Duff & Phelps

11:20 am – Break

11:30 am – LTE, The Technology that Killed the Cat: Lessons from MetroPCS and Cricket
     Joe Molina, Ryan (Chair)
     Jason Butterworth & Jason Chao, Ernst & Young
     Allison Garton, Cricket Communications
     Stephen Yergeau, T-Mobile

LEGACY NETWORKS

12:05 pm – Transforming the Local Exchange Network
      Lawrence Vanston, TFI

12:30 am – Lunch (provided by TFI)

1:30 pm – Outlook for Shutting Down the Legacy Network
      Charles Burkhardt, CostQuest
      Bob McKnight, Cost Quest

2:00 pm – FTTX vs Legacy: CAPEX Is Now, but OPEX is Forever
      Kermit Ross, Network Design Decisions Inc.

2:20 pm – Break

WIRELESS

2:30 pm – 5G Cellular: How and Why It Will Differ from 4G
      Dr. Jeffrey Andrews, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin.

3:30 am – Break

3:40 pm – Wireless Industry Panel
      Gary Wiggins, AT&T
      Mike Heaton, Duff & Phelps
      Stephen Yergeau, T-Mobile
      Michael Mupo, Verizon

4:20 pm – TFI Wireless Forecast Update
      Ray Hodges, TFI

4:35 pm – Break

VALUATION ISSUES II

4:40 pm – Applying Forecasts and Cost Studies in Times of Big Change
      Jim Dombrowski, Verizon
      Lawrence Vanston, TFI
      Don Jackson, DuCharme, McMillen & Associates
      Ken Love, Assistant Attorney General, Tax Section, State of Arizona
      Robert Davis, Utah Division of Public Utilities

5:30 pm – Day Ends

6:00 pm – Lake View Reception (Onsite)



CONFERENCE DAY 2: Thursday, January 30, 2014

BROADBAND & VIDEO

8:30 am – GigaBit Broadband: Could It/Will It/Should It Change the World, and If So, How?
     Dr. William Lehr, Research Scientist, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

9:30 am – Rolling Out Gigabit: Status and Economics
     Jim Stegeman, CostQuest Associates

10:00 am – Break

10:15 am – TFI Broadband Access Forecast
     Lawrence Vanston, TFI

10:30 am – Impacts on Cable HFC Networks
     Robert Harris, TFI

10:55 am – Google Fiber: Myths, Means and Motives - Panel
     Lawrence Vanston, TFI (Chair)
     William Lehr, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
     Robert Harris, TFI
     Jim Stegeman, CostQuest Associates

11:30 am – Break

VALUATION ISSUES III

11:45 am – Trending in Today's Communications World
     Christian Altenburger, Comcast (Chair)
     Carl Hoemke, ASA
     Jim Stegeman, CostQuest Associates
     Jeff Binkley, Deloitte

12:20 pm – Closing Remarks
     Lawrence Vanston, TFI

12:30 pmConference Ends

12:30 pmBox Lunch and Discussion (box lunches provided by TFI)

1:20 pmLunch Ends

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SPEAKERS - January 29-30, 2014

Conference Director and TFI Speakers

Seminar Director Dr. Lawrence Vanston, President, TFI

Lawrence K. Vanston, Ph.D.
President
, Technology Futures, Inc.




Keynote Speakers: 

Keynote Speaker, Professor Jeffrey G. Andrews, UT

Wireless Keynote: Dr. Jeffrey Andrews,
The Cullen Trust for Higher Education Endowed Professorship in Engineering #1, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin


Keynote Speaker, Dr. William Lehr, Research Associate, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory 
Communications Futures Program, MIT


Broadband/Video Keynote: Dr. William Lehr
Research Associate, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Communications Futures Program
 
MIT

Data Center Keynote: Mark Murrill, Director Marketing Enterprise and 400V DC, Emerson Network Power

Data Center Keynote: Mark Murrill
Director Marketing Enterprise and 400V DC , Emerson Network Power



Speakers & Panelists:

Christian Altenburger, Manager, Property Tax, Comcast

Dr. Jeffrey Andrews, The Cullen Trust for Higher Education Endowed Professorship in Engineering #1, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

Kelli Batianis-DiPietro, Sr. Manager - Tax, Time Warner Cable

Jeff Binkley, Director, Deloitte

Charles Burkhardt, Senior Consultant,Cost Quest

Jason Butterworth, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young

Jason Chao, Principal, Ernst & Young

Robert Davis, Utility Analyst II, Utah Division of Public Utilities

Jim Dombrowski, Manager - Property Taxes, Verizon

Allison Garton, Property Tax Manager, Cricket Communications

Bob Harris, Senior Consultant, Technology Futures, Inc.

Carl Hoemke, ASA

Michael Heaton, Director, Duff & Phelps

Ray L. Hodges, Senior Consultant, Technology Futures, Inc.

Don Jackson, Property Tax Assessment, Appeal and Audit Review, DuCharme, McMillen & Associates

Carl Hoemke, Managing Director, Duff & Phelps

William Lehr, Research Associate, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Communications Futures Program, MIT

Ken Love, Assistant Attorney General, State of Arizona

Pat Lynch, Managing Director, Data Center Solutions Group, , CBRE

Bob McKnight, Sr. Consultant,Cost Quest

Peter Michaels, Owner, Law Office of Peter Michaels

Ruben Miranda, Director, Duff & Phelps

Joe Molina, Principal, Ryan

Michael Mupo, Director, Verizon

Kermit Ross, Manager Property Tax, Network Design Decisions Inc.

Alan Schultz, Sr. Managing Consultant, Paradigm Tax Group

James Stegeman, President, CostQuest Associates (Chair)

Larry Vanston, President, Technology Futures, Inc.

Jerome Weinert, Principal & Director, AUS Consultants

Gary Wiggins, Executive Director - Property Tax, AT&T

Steve Yergeau, Director, Property Taxes, T-Mobile

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REGISTRATION: For TFI Communications Technology Asset Valuation Conference and Pre-Conference Seminar

Registration for TFI Communications Technology Asset Valuation Conference: January 29-30, 2014

Earn up to 12 Texas CE credits and/or up tp to 13 National Registry of CPE Sponsors credits.*

We recommend that attendees to "TFI Communications Technology Asset Valuation Conference" also attend "TFI Technology Forecasting for Valuation Seminar."
Wednesday, January 29, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and
Thursday, January 30, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Registration: $995
Assessor/Academic/Gov. Registration: $295
Registration for Pre-Conference Seminar: TFI Technology Forecasting for Valuation: January 28, 2014

Earn up to 3.25 Texas CPE credits and/or up to 4 National Registry of CPE Sponsors credits.*

Tuesday, January 28, 1:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. followed by reception
Standard Rate: $250
Assessor/Government/Academic Rate: $150

[Substitution/Cancellation/Refunds/Inclement Weather Policy]

1/23/14 - UPDATED INORMATION: Earn Continued Professional Education Credits: Technology Forecasting Workshop (Jan 28) and TFI Communications Technology Asset Valuation Conference (Jan 29-30).

TFI is a licensed Continuing Education provider with NASBA (Natl). Attendees can earn up to 4 CPEs for the Seminar and up to 13 CPEs for the Conference. Sponsor ID: 112763

We are licensed for two TDLR (TX) categories: Property Tax Professionals (PTP) and Property Tax Consultants (PTC). Provider ID: 1851. We have course approval for PTP, but are still waiting for approval PTC. PTP Conference attendees can earn up to 10.5 CEs for Conference and approx 3 CEs for Seminar. Assuming PTC is approved, the CEs will likely be similar.

For more information see: http://www.tfi.com/sems/TFI-Technology-Forecasting-Seminar.html#tuition


Earn Continued Professional Education Credits: Technology Forecasting Workshop (Jan 28) and TFI Communications Technology Asset Valuation Conference (Jan 29-30). TFI is registered with TDLR and NASBA through 2013 and is waiting to hear on approval and number of credits for the 2014 Seminar and Conference (watch site for updates).

*Technology Futures, Inc. is registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) as a Continuing Education Provider. The CE categories are Property Tax Professionals - Appraisal Standards and Methodology and Property Tax Consultants. It's the attendee's responsibility to determine whether the credits meet their CE requirements and to provide TFI with their license number. TDLR Provider Number: 1851.

*Technology Futures, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.

CPE: In accordance with the standards of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, CPE credits will be granted based on a 50-minute hour. Fields of Study: Special Knowledge & Applications and Taxes. Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live. Program Level: Basic-Advanced. No Prerequisites required. No Advanced preparation required. National Registry of CPE Sponsor ID Number: 112763.


VENUE:

Downtown Austin PhotoLOCATION/ACCOMMODATIONS: Radisson Hotel & Suites Downtown, 111 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78701, (512) 478-9611, The hotel is on Lady Bird Lake, in walking distance to Austin's famous 6th Street, and near the Texas State Capitol, the University of Texas, and other popular Austin sites.

A limited block of rooms hass been extended under "Technology Futures" until January 13, 2014 at $159 plus tax for a regular room.* To book a regular room, call (800) 395-7046 or reserve online at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/techfutures. *There are also a limited number of suites available for $199 plus tax; for those, please contact Ashley Riley, 512-473-1544 or ariley@radissonaustin.com.
Austin's Downtown 6th Street This is a non-smoking facility with complimentary high-speed Internet and wireless access throughout the hotel.

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.

 

 


SPONSORS

TFI Asset Valuation Conference Sponsor, AUS Consultants Depreciation & Valuation Practice

TFI Asset Valuation Conference Sponsor, CostQuest Associates

TFI Asset Valuation Conference Sponsor, Deloitte


What Attendees Say

“... 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

"This program is a must for anyone charged with determining fair market value for telecom assets."

Rick Masching,
Property Tax Director
Verizon Communications

"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,
Senior Director
Thomson Reuters

"… 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