MADISON, Wis. -- Media giant AT&T has given thousands of dollars in donations to Wisconsin lawmakers, WISC-TV reported.

The donations come at the same time that AT&T is pushing for a state law to allow it to move into the cable market.

Campaign finance records show the company's political action committee gave $54,000 to legislators and Gov. Jim Doyle during the past 15 months.

The head of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a government watchdog group, said that it's impossible not to connect the donations and AT&T's push for the cable bill, WISC-TV reported.

An AT&T company spokesman denied the two are related.