3 ▁were ▁removed ) ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁( when ▁channels ▁ 5 2 ▁to ▁ 6 9 ▁were ▁removed ▁by ▁mand ate ▁at ▁the ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁transition ▁from ▁analog ▁to ▁digital ▁television ). ▁ ▁As ▁in ▁other ▁countries , ▁television ▁stations ▁require ▁a ▁license ▁to ▁broadcast ▁leg ally ▁( which ▁any ▁pros pective ▁broad c aster ▁can ▁apply ▁for ▁through ▁the ▁F CC ) ▁and ▁must ▁comp ly ▁with ▁certain ▁requirements ▁( such ▁as ▁those ▁involving ▁programming ▁of ▁public ▁affairs ▁and ▁educational ▁interest , ▁and ▁reg ulations ▁prohib iting ▁the ▁air ing ▁of ▁inde cent ▁content ) ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁retain ▁it ; ▁the ▁F CC ' s ▁Board ▁of ▁Commission ers ▁maintain s ▁o vers ight ▁of ▁the ▁renew al ▁of ▁existing ▁station ▁lic enses ▁approaching ▁their ▁exp iration , ▁with ▁individuals ▁or ▁groups ▁who ▁wish ▁to ▁opp ose ▁the ▁grant ing ▁of ▁a ▁renew al ▁to ▁a ▁license e ▁based ▁on ▁any ▁disag re ement ▁over ▁rule ▁comp liance ▁or ▁any ▁other ▁issues ▁incl ined ▁to ▁contest ▁it ▁for ▁consideration ▁of ▁rev ocation . ▁Free - to - air ▁and ▁subscription ▁television ▁networks , ▁however , ▁are ▁not ▁required ▁to ▁file ▁for ▁a ▁license ▁to ▁operate . ▁ ▁Over - the - air ▁and ▁free - to - air ▁television ▁do ▁not ▁necess itate ▁any ▁month ly ▁pay ments , ▁while ▁cable , ▁direct ▁broadcast ▁satellite ▁( DB S ), ▁IP TV ▁and ▁virtual ▁M VP D ▁services ▁require ▁month ly ▁pay ments ▁that ▁vary ▁depending ▁on