They all do it, and I have been told specifically by customer service reps at both Verizon and AT&T that there is no way to get it waived, there is no way around it. It is ridiculous when you buy 2 phones to have to pay $60 for this, especially as a new customer OFFERING THEM a guarantee of a couple years' worth of patronage!
I left Verizon for this reason. ATT rep agreed to waive it, if I buy the phone from ATT, which means *locked*. Looks like I will have to leave ATT too. Shame on Apple for not offering a carrier-free version.