The Terria group, a consortium of telcos led by Optus bidding for the national broadband network contract, is in Tamworth, NSW, today to promote the group's proposal to roll out broadband to country communities before capital cities.

The Terria group is likely to be Telstra's main opponent in submissions to the Federal Government to build the $10 billion fibre optic-based, national network.

The bids are due to be lodged on November 26.

Terria chair, Michael Egan is one of the speakers to outline how the proposed service will work.

Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor is there at the meeting, as as a keen observer.

He's long been a vocal campaigner for equity of access to telecommunication services for country people.

“Country people have suffered at the hands of the previous Government in their selling off of Telstra without having adequate guarantees “enshrined” in legislation as they claimed," Mr Windsor said.

"The Glasson Regional Telecommunications Review has confirmed what country people have known all along that they have been treated as second class citizens with their telecommunication services lagging behind those of the city.

"If the Terria consortium is offering a country-first approach which will address the needs of country people, then I think it must be considered," he said.

"The opportunities that will open up for country people through having access to better telecommunication services will be great and will not hinder the development of city services where the free-market will drive its growth without Government support.”

Telstra has been the main critic of the government tender process, saying it wants clarification of the regulations and a guarantee that Telstra won't be broken up.

Telstra's proposal has been based on a vertically integrated, regulation-free network which it would own and run however it chose.

It has threatened to withdraw from the bidding if these conditions aren't guaranteed.