The Federal Communications Commission agreed Thursday to dramatically boost spending to bring high-speed Internet access to schools and libraries in poor or rural areas, a move that would likely increase Americans’ phone bills by about $2 a year.

Educators hailed the 60 percent jump in spending to $3.9 billion as critical to making sure much of the nation’s population doesn’t get left behind, particularly as other countries invest heavily in broadband connections. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said he estimates that two-thirds of American schools still don’t have access to high-speed connections, which can affect a child’s ability to do homework, research college scholarships and acquire basic job skills.

The FCC’s E-Rate program provides discounted telecommunications and Internet access to qualifying schools and libraries. The program is paid for through a larger "universal service fund." Service providers are required to contribute to that fund, but the cost is often passed on to consumers.

The Obama administration endorsed the plan when Wheeler discussed the details last month. Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Thursday’s vote "a huge step forward" in the administration’s program to expand digital learning resources in schools.