Purpose of chapter.

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. (L. 1996 S.B. 507)