392.185.  Purpose of chapter. — The provisions of this chapter shall be construed to:

  (1)  Promote universally available and widely affordable telecommunications services;

  (2)  Maintain and advance the efficiency and availability of telecommunications services;

  (3)  Promote diversity in the supply of telecommunications services and products throughout the state of Missouri;

  (4)  Ensure that customers pay only reasonable charges for telecommunications service;

  (5)  Permit flexible regulation of competitive telecommunications companies and competitive telecommunications services;

  (6)  Allow full and fair competition to function as a substitute for regulation when consistent with the protection of ratepayers and otherwise consistent with the public interest;

  (7)  Promote parity of urban and rural telecommunications services;

  (8)  Promote economic, educational, health care and cultural enhancements; and

  (9)  Protect consumer privacy.