Stonington — The Board of Selectmen announced a plan Wednesday night to bring broadband internet service to three commercial buildings along the north side of West Broad Street in downtown Pawcatuck.

It was just two weeks ago that a group of downtown business owners and property owners pleaded with town and utility officials to help bring broadband internet to their buildings. They said they have had to conduct business without internet access. This means no credit card processing, no email and other functions that most businesses in 2016 take for granted.

Meanwhile, owners of two of the buildings had said they did not want to proceed with their plans to create a dozen or so apartments on their second floors until internet in installed because, without it, they will have trouble attracting tenants. One business owner said she would not renew her lease next spring without internet service.

Selectmen pledged to quickly solve the problem, and at their meeting Wednesday night they said Thames Valley Communications has agreed to pay to install a pole and string a line from Donahue Park across West Broad Street, between the former West Broad Street Bistro and the Connecticut Community Credit Union and then to the rear of the buildings.

Selectman Mike Spellman, who has been leading the selectmen’s effort on the project, said the service could be installed by Thanksgiving.

“We’ve got a lot done in 14 days that had not been done in several years,” he said.

Spellman added that it is little but important items such as providing internet for a handful of buildings that are the building blocks for revitalizing the downtown.

While the pole and new line is a short-term solution, Spellman said the town is also working on a long-term solution to make sure all of the town has the most up to date internet service.

Work is now being done to design the pole and obtain the needed easements, according to Rex Buettgenbach, the general manager for Thames Valley Communications.

“We’re prepared to keep moving forward with this, and we thank you for bringing it to our attention. We’ll make it happen,” he said.

j.wojtas@theday.com