History
PINS was originally established in the early 1980’s by Steven Gelmis as Public Interest Network Services, Inc. with the goal of helping “not-for-profit” organizations in New York City and the surrounding region to maximize the benefits they derived from their limited telecommunications budgets. Working closely with literally hundreds of not-for-profits over the next ten to fifteen years, he provided PBX’s and telephone systems tailored to fit their specific needs, and also organized a long distance bulk-purchasing cooperative that was in a position to acquire the best telecommunications solutions available from different Tier 1 Providers in order to provide the best service to his clients while greatly reducing the cost.
With the court-mandated break-up of the former Bell network into regional telephone companies in 1984, it became possible for small telephone companies such as Public Interest to offer telephone services directly to customers, rather than through the Bell monopoly. Steve took advantage of this change in government regulation to establish a new telephone company under the aegis of Public Interest, called Public Interest Telecom, Inc.
An important milestone was reached in 2008 when Public Interest became a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), which enables it to directly sell telecommunications services, instead of acting solely as a reseller.
In 2002, David Birnbaum joined Public Interest with the goal of expanding the telecommunications services offered by taking advantage of the power of the Internet, as well as offering an entire new range of services, such as website hosting and acting as in Internet provider (ISP). In 2003, Steve retired and David took over as the new CEO of Public Interest, although Steve continues to act as a consultant.
The services offered by the two “Public Interest” companies have continued to grow over the years, now expanded into the realm of “for-profit” companies as well as “not-for-profit” organizations, and “Public Interest” has now morphed into PINS, in recognition of the breadth of its client base and services offered.
