Finally ran the cat5 cable but then realized while trying to get the modem working through the ethernet card that there isn't a driver for the surfboard to work that way. There isn't one on the installation disk. I guess Comcast just gets a certain type of modem and decides how they're going to install it and that's it.
In Linux, after disconnecting the USB cable does not reveal the modem at all though the ethernet card appears to be configured. I attempted to utilize the "answers" located
here. It seems to be a bit different in 9.1 Pro. I can't figure out what to put in "Domain Search 1" field. I put the DHCP server address in the "Name Server 1" field.
Anyway that's where I am. Thanks.