Can I set up two cable modems in one house?

I am in the process of moving to a studio apartment; the bottom floor of a three family house. The rent price has included all utilities plus TV and internet. There's a cable TV already in my unit with working, active cable service and a set top box. However, by internet, the landlord just means access to their wifi password.

It doesn't seem like there's any ethernet ports throughout the house, but there's definitely an accessible coax connection for the cable TV. I would like to have wired internet access as i do have to remotely log in to work from home, from time to time, and i would like a more reliable connection. I would also like a little more privacy from my network traffic.

Can i simply plug in an [Optimum approved](http://optimum.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3832/~/optimum-online-provided-modem) cable modem where TV coax cable is, and call it a day? Is there any additional set up? Would i need to call Optimum and tell them about it (I dont have access the account details)?

I don't think it's feasible to get an ethernet line from wherever their router is to the floor underneath.