[Arran]

When FM broadcast was moved up to the current frequencies. The 42-50 was relegated to police/fire/forest/military and other services. The upper portion was also slated for channel 1 TV which was never used. Later, 45 -49.9 was used for cordless telephones, baby monitors and low power two way walkie talkies (Rat Shack sold a boat load). The lower portion was still public service use. Also, some military use is also mixed in.

The CB band as we know it operates from 26.9 through 27.4 mc AM, not FM (though you may hear FM with those illegal "export" sets). You can still hear the occasional baby monitor and cordless telephone in that band. But that's about it. Last year I heard a baby monitor while tunning across the band with my Zenith. Not sure which neighbor as the ones close do not have a baby. That surprised me.

I remember back around 1988-90 or so I could pick up a baby monitor at one end of the AM broadcast band, I could hear baby talk and the occasional howl come through. I never could figure out where it was coming from, as in your situation none of the close neighbors had a baby, the propagation must have been quite far. This was interesting since they were supposedly designed not to transmit outside of the confines of the average house. I still think that it would be fun to have a Part 15 transmitter that would broadcast on the old FM band, maybe get into Pirate radio as well.
Best Regards
Arran