A porous low k or ultra low k dielectric film comprising atoms of Si, C, O and H (hereinafter “SiCOH”) in a covalently bonded tri-dimensional network structure having a dielectric constant of less than about 3.0, a higher degree of crystalline bonding interactions, more carbon as methyl termination groups and fewer methylene, —CH2— crosslinking groups than prior art SiCOH dielectrics is provided. The SiCOH dielectric is characterized as having a FTIR spectrum comprising a peak area for CH3+CH2 stretching of less than about 1.40, a peak area for SiH stretching of less than about 0.20, a peak area for SiCH3 bonding of greater than about 2.0, and a peak area for Si—O—Si bonding of greater than about 60%, and a porosity of greater than about 20%.