Which of the Following Was the Prime Reason Behind the Formation

Which of the following was the prime reason behind the formation of regulations aimed at protecting competitors?

A) To provide legal protection to independent merchants against competition from larger chain stores
B) To reduce the concentration of industry power in the hands of a small number of competitors
C) To increase competition in industries like telecommunications, utilities, transportation, and financial services by discontinuing many regulations
D) To permit firms to expand their service offerings to new markets by discontinuing many regulations