The Howard County Council unanimously confirmed yesterday the appointment of Kathleen C. Conway of Columbia as county cable television administrator.

It was the final council meeting before the legislative body's August recess.

In confirming Conway, the council brushed aside misgivings from a public advocate about hiring a longtime employee of Comcast Cablevision.

Comcast services 60,000 customers in Howard and also holds the cable franchises in Baltimore and Harford counties.

Bunny Riedel, executive director of the Alliance for Community Media, a Washington-based public advocacy group, appeared at the council's public hearing last week and questioned whether any longtime employee of Comcast could be a strong advocate for the public.

Council members and County Executive James N. Robey said they were confident that Conway, a 14-year Comcast employee, could do so.

As cable administrator, Conway, 38, will oversee a $1.2 million budget that pays for county government cable channel 70, educational channels 71 and 72 operated by the county schools and Howard Community College, and public access channel 73.

Pub Date: 7/30/99