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.