Why It Matters

Via Science Inc.’s lobbying push arrives at a critical inflection point for prison security policy. Congress is actively advancing two complementary bills—the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act and the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act—with strong bipartisan backing from Rep. David Kustoff and Sen. Tom Cotton. The FCC recently authorized testing of jamming technology in prisons, removing a major regulatory barrier.

This is the company’s first venture into criminal justice lobbying. Via Science previously spent $230,000 with Invariant LLC on defense and financial technology issues. By adding Ingram Group LLC—a firm with $15 million in annual lobbying expenditures—the company is expanding its government affairs footprint significantly.

By the Numbers

Via Science began federal lobbying in February 2025, initially retaining Invariant LLC for $230,000 through October 2025. The company has now added Ingram Group LLC, which reports over $15 million in lobbying expenditures.

Via Science’s new lobbying team includes:

  • Jena Baker McNeill: Former Deputy Director of Homeland Security on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, with five years of Capitol Hill experience including roles with Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI).

  • Amanda Bunning Kelsey: Lobbying since 2015 with a diverse portfolio spanning telecommunications, technology, and healthcare, including multiple Tennessee-based organizations.

  • Evan Meyers: New to lobbying in 2025, focusing on healthcare, immigration, and telecommunications.

The Agenda

Via Science Inc. is lobbying on law enforcement and criminal justice issues related to contraband cell phones in prisons—a pressing concern enabling inmates to coordinate violent crimes from behind bars. The company’s engagement with Ingram Group LLC marks an expansion into domestic corrections policy as Congress advances legislation aimed at combating illegal devices in correctional facilities.

Broader Context

The urgency is driven by documented crimes. Gang leaders have ordered murders and kidnappings from behind bars using contraband phones. Georgia’s Department of Corrections seized over 15,500 cell phones in a single year. A 2020 Urban Institute survey found 85 percent of corrections leaders say these devices threaten staff and public safety.

Political momentum is substantial. Thirty-one state attorneys general recently urged Congress to pass jamming reform. The broader prison technology market is valued at $1.2 billion in 2024.

Between The Lines

Congress is moving quickly on bipartisan legislation. The Cellphone Jamming Reform Act would authorize correctional facilities to deploy jamming technology, while the companion Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act would increase penalties for smuggling phones into federal prisons. Sen. Cotton’s prison tour with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr helped drive regulatory momentum.

Competitive Landscape

While specific competitor activities aren’t documented, telecommunications industry groups, prison guard unions, and other security technology firms are certain to be engaged on this issue, either supporting or opposing specific technological solutions like jamming.

The Bottom Line

Via Science Inc. is leveraging new lobbying firepower at an ideal moment. With Congress advancing bipartisan legislation, the FCC removing regulatory barriers, and 31 state attorneys general backing reform, the company’s team—led by Jena Baker McNeill with deep Senate Homeland Security Committee experience—is well-positioned to influence the policy debate as lawmakers move toward adopting detection and interdiction solutions.

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