Keeping 39.46 on the air...
I've always been a firm believer in having a backup. In this case, the tried-and-true 39.46 Hot Line frequency. I feel it should be kept active just in case the UHF repeater has problems or becomes busy with traffic. The Low Band system is already licensed, bought and paid for and works quite well throughout the county. There is also no competition from any other users locally, making the frequency nice and quiet. The use of PL solves the occasional "skip" problem when the band opens, so that's not an issue either. I doubt it would cost THAT much to upgrade it with new equipment, especially since it's only a network of base stations with no mobiles. Low Band equipment is still being manufactured by several companies, such as Kenwood and Vertex Standard. I think it's worth the investment to keep it on the air rather than abandon it.