`I WANT NO MTV'; GROUP WANTS CABLE COMPANY TO DISCONTINUE MUSIC CHANNEL

The Cape Girardeau County chapter of the American Family Association is organizing an effort to urge the Cape Girardeau cable television company to drop MTV from its service.

About 16 members of the AFA discussed plans for the effort Tuesday night at a meeting in Cape Girardeau.

The county AFA chapter is affiliated with a national organization based in Tupelo, Miss. It focuses on preserving Christian family values, and has been especially active in fighting pornography.

Linda Lawrence, founder of the local chapter, explained that the group will have an informational booth at the SEMO District Fair next week and will be seeking signatures from Cape Girardeau residents on a petition asking the cable company to drop MTV.

Lawrence and others at the meeting expressed concern about the sexual overtones of the videos shown on MTV and the impact it has on youth. Several said that many parents, who know their children watch MTV, are not aware of what the videos show.

The group is pushing petitions now because TCI Cablevision's franchise agreement with the city is up for renewal next year. A citizens advisory committee is reviewing the service provided by TCI and what should be included in a new franchise agreement.

The present agreement will expire on Dec. 7, 1992.

"We need to know how many people are unhappy with MTV on the cable service," said Lawrence. Eventually the petitions will be presented to the City Council and to TCI.

The Rev. Jeff Militta, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge and president of the group, said that with the franchise up for renewal the company might be more receptive to the concerns of citizens about the programming on MTV.

Lawrence said that officials at the national office of AFA have said the best time to seek changes in cable programming is when the franchise is up from renewal.

Lawrence said she had talked with City Attorney Warren Wells and was told there was no legal way TCI could be forced to drop MTV. She said she believes the best approach is to show the city and cable company that citizens want the channel dropped.

There have been some instances where cable companies have dropped MTV because of public pressure or have given customers the option of not receiving the programming.

Besides the MTV petition, the group also will have a petition in their Fair booth asking that voluntary school prayer be allowed.

Another topic discussed Tuesday night was whether to ask the Cape Girardeau City Council to consider passing an ordinance requiring stores that rent videos to keep those that are pornographic separate from other videos.

One member said that Hazelwood has an ordinance and agreed to discuss the matter with some members of the council.

The Cape County AFA has also been active in picketing K-Mart. K-Mart owns Waldenbooks, which members say sell pornographic materials.

The group plans to meet again on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Southside Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.