" exactly "

actually , there absolutely will be new services / transmissions that
will fill those old analog freqs and 700- 800 mhz in general. new
scanners ( those built after 2007 ) would logically be able to
receive the whole 700 - 800 mhz band , with no exceptions , because
the banned analog cellular calls will be gone.

trouble is ( with old / current scanners , that is ) , not only
would they be " frequency challenged " as you say , they will also be
" scanning " challenged because the new reorganization of the 700 -
800 ( and others ) bands will have different channel spacing and
modes of transmission. the only currently made scanners that will
survive those changes ( properly ) will be the ones with manually
programmable channel spacing ( on all bands ) and additionally they
must have manually programmable mode selection too. a great many
scanners, as a matter of fact , most current scanners have some sort
of preprogrammed spacing / mode selection built into their eproms
for use in automatic selection operation.

serious scanner hobbyist will almost certainly want a scanner that
addresses the new changes in process , esp band / mode changes . one
especially, that doesn't prevent them from listening ( properly ) to
the new activities that are in the works.

if you are worried about having a scanner that will pick up the banned
cellular freqs , forget about clinging to your old scanners and look
to the new ones when they come out ( 2007 and beyond ) as they will
surely be able to, since the banned restrictions will no longer
apply. most people will want scanners with eproms that fit the new
band spacing / freq / mode changes , basically flooding the market
with current / older scanners that do not fit properly into the
current changes taking place.
zillions of current high end scanners will be had for a song when
the new jobbies hit the market. you can bet that scanner makers have
already geared up their production to address these issues and will
try to beat each other to production. all the people that have
bought those current expensive digital scanners or any scanner with
preprogrammed eproms ( nearly any and all models ) will be stuck with
old technology and be angry that their new $500 scanner only lasted 2
or 3 years before becoming obsolete.

mega changes in the cages are at hand for everyone in this hobby.




Which isn't to say nothing of interest will ever pop up on the now defunct
cell band.
Not everyone is content with a frequency challenged scanner.